CPRK Spokesman Accuses S. Korean Regime of Passing Buck on Deteriorated Inter-Korean Relations to DPRK

A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA Friday in connection with the fact that the south Korean puppet forces recently termed the DPRK's access to nuclear weapons scrapping of inter- Korean agreements:

Shortly ago, mandarins of the puppet Ministry of Unification of south Korea in the "document on its stand on the June 15 joint declaration" spouted strange sophism that the DPRK's nuclear weapons are violating the main spirit of the north-south agreements and standing in the way of the inter-Korean relations.

The south Korean puppet conservative media and the venal "experts on north Korean affairs" are claiming as if dialogue, exchange and cooperation between the north and the south were suspended due to the DPRK's nuclear tests and ballistic rocket launches.

This is no more than a cynical ploy of the puppet forces to shift the blame for the bedeviled inter-Korean relations onto the DPRK and justify their policy of confrontation with it and an intolerable mockery of the main spirit of the north-south agreements.

It was neither the DPRK's self-defensive nuclear deterrence nor its ballistic rockets that scrapped the main spirit of the inter-Korean agreements and drove the north-south relations into the present catastrophe. The Park Geun Hye regime of south Korea was entirely to blame for this situation as it has been hell-bent on acts of treachery with the daydream of isolating and stifling the compatriots in the north in collusion with outsiders.

Nevertheless, the puppet forces are going so impudent as to find fault with the DPRK, raising

a hue and cry over "scrapping" and "violation." This is just like a guilty party filing the suit first.

The south Korean puppet regime has lost face or qualifications long ago to talk about the north-south agreements as it is bringing the danger of a nuclear war to hang over the nation after reducing south Korea to the world's biggest nuclear outpost.

The Park Geun Hye group can never evade the responsibility for having totally denied and scrapped the inter-Korean agreements. It will never be able to escape a stern punishment by history and the nation.

Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism

A spokesman for the National Coordinating Committee of the DPRK on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA on Monday as regards the fact that the U.S. and other hostile forces are attempting to tighten financial sanctions on the DPRK by setting in motion the FATF-Style Body:

The plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force on Anti-Money Laundering held in Pusan, south Korea on June 24 adopted a public statement absurdly accusing the DPRK of posing a "threat" to the international financial system and again putting it on the list of "targets of countermeasure".

The DPRK strongly denounces the statement as an inhumane act of the hostile forces to encroach upon the DPRK's sovereignty and right to existence.

The reckless moves of the U.S. and other hostile forces to isolate and stifle the DPRK and "bring down its social system" have now reached the phase of abusing even the FATF-Style Body.

What should not be overlooked is that the so-called public statement undisguisedly cried out for blocking banking channels to the DPRK under the pretext of the "threat of WMDs proliferation" from it, not mentioning even a word about the positive action steps being taken by it to abide by the international standard under an agreement between it and the FATF-Style Body.

The U.S. and other hostile forces have gone so sordid as to put the FATF-Style Body under their control, prompted by their sinister politically-motivated purpose to block the cooperative relations developing favorably between the DPRK and the FATF-Style Body and to expand their financial sanctions against the DPRK worldwide.

From the consistent stand on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, the DPRK has established the regular state system such as setting up the Financial Supervisory Bureau and the Financial Intelligence Agency for anti-money laundering in line with the international standard and adopting the Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on

Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism. It also acceded to the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and recently to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.

The DPRK will as ever continue cooperation with the FATF-Style Body while taking positive steps for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism but will never allow the U.S. and other hostile forces to abuse the FATF-Style Body for their sinister politically- motivated purposes.

Kim Jong Un Visits Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Silk Mill

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, provided field guidance to the Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Silk Mill.

He went to the newly-built room for education in the revolutionary history and room dedicated to the history of the mill.

He said that there are many historic materials and data and that the immortal history of President Kim Il Sung and leader
Kim Jong Il's guidance over the mill makes one know well about their noble outlook on the people and their great revolutionary career and keenly feel under what tender-hearted leaders our people lived.

He stressed the need to intensify the education in the historic materials so that the employees of the mill can deeply cherish the pride and honor of working at the mill for which the great leaders had shown special care.

Going round different parts of the mill, he learnt in detail about its production and management.

He noted with high appreciation that the mill replaced the outdated facilities with invented modern and high-speed ones under a plan for putting the production processes on a modern and scientific basis to better its employees' working conditions and raise the production capacity and further improve the quality of products and newly established various processes to normalize the production, thus making positive contribution to solving the people's clothing problem.

He went round the newly-arranged production processes of sanitary goods.

The home-made production facilities and the quality of sanitary goods are of the world level, he said, adding this shows eloquently that there is no fortress unconquerable when the banner of the principle of giving priority to self-development is held higher.

He set forth the tasks facing the mill and relevant units, saying that the mill has a very important role to play for the improvement of the people's standard of living.

Every part of the mill is flawless and everything is perfect, he said, highly appreciating that it is the best in aspect of the cultured practice in production and life among factories he visited recently.

He had a photo session with the officials and employees of the mill, expressing belief that they would become a model for the whole country, dashing ahead by tightly holding the reins of Mallima provided by the Party like the preceding generation who had rushed ahead racing against the times running on Chollima given by Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

Accompanying him were Department Director An Jong Su and Vice Department Director Jo Yong Won of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.

Kim Jong Un Visits Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory

 Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, gave field guidance to the Pyongyang Cornstarch Factory successfully remodeled as required by the age of knowledge-based economy and befitting a highly civilized socialist nation.

He went round the newly-built room for the education in the revolutionary history and the room dedicated to the history of the factory.

Watching the data showing the glorious path of development covered by the factory, he said that it turned into a large-scale food-processing base thanks to the leadership and care of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il. The factory should always remember the noble loving care they had shown for the people for improving the standard of their living all their lives, he added.

Recollecting the day when he visited the factory together with Kim Jong Il, he said that it arranged well the room for the education in the revolutionary history and the room dedicated to its history so that it might convey to posterity the profound loving care shown by the great leaders for the supply of confectionary to the people.

Visiting the room for the education in the revolutionary history alone one may know well about the exploits Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il performed by dedicating themselves to the people and the WPK's policy of developing the food industry, he noted that a lot of historical materials displayed in the room serve as a banner putting spurs to the development of the food industry in the new century and dynamically encouraging its workers in their drive to increase the production.

Going round various places of the factory, he learned in detail about its modernization and production.

He said that the factory put all production processes including corn-processing process, millet jelly production process, Oktang sugar production process, cake production process and candy production process on an automated, streamlined, germ- and dust-free basis on a high level and established a strict system for test of quality, thus making it possible to rapidly boost productivity with less manpower and thoroughly ensure the hygienic safety of the products.

Saying that the biggest success registered by the factory in its modernization is that the proportion of locally produced equipment has reached more than 95 percent, he noted that cutting-edge equipment designed and manufactured by the DPRK are running in all production processes from the raw material feeding to packing of products and all of them look nice. The field of food industry has taken the lead in implementing the party's line of locally producing equipment in recent years, he added.

The factory has turned into the one to be proud of against the backdrop of a high-pitched drive for updating production facilities in our own way with local production of equipment as the core sweeping the whole country, he pointed out, pleased that this factory is the one holding high the banner of Juche-orientation, the one worthy of being a model in creating the spirit of self-reliance and self-development and the one teaching how to carry out modernization.

He had a photo session with the officials and employees of the factory.

Accompanying him were Department Director An Jong Su and vice department directors Jo Yong Won and Sin Man Gyun of the WPK Central Committee.

KCNA Commentary Accuses Japan of Denying Sexual Slavery

Japan has adopted it as its pressing foreign policy to prevent the information related to sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army from being registered by UNESCO as world heritage.
    When 10 odd NGOs in various countries and regions such as China and Netherlands recently submitted applications to get 2 744 pieces of information related to the sexual slavery registered by UNESCO, the chief Cabinet secretary and the foreign minister of Japan are voicing opposition to it, blustering that "Japan would press ahead with such measures as reform of UNESCO's system to make sure that it is not abused for political purposes" and that "Japan would assert a correct stand and seriously react to it."
    This is triggering off criticism of the international community as it is an impudent and brigandish act of Japan to put under the carpet its blood-stained history of aggression by embellishing its hideous crimes against humanity in defiance of international practice and international organizations if any action incurs its displeasure. This reminds one of the arbitrary acts of its master U.S.
    To get the detailed accounts of the sexual slavery of Japan, the hideous crimes Japan perpetrated against humanity, registered by UNESCO as world heritage is a due requirement of history for preventing war crimes and preserving peace and dignity of humankind with joint efforts.
    Japan forcibly took away 200 000 women of Korea and many women of other countries to shambles of the war of aggression and forced them into sexual slavery by using government and military power in the past, thus mercilessly violating their chastity, personality, dignity and rights. These unpardonable thrice-cursed crimes can never be covered up.
    No matter how desperately Japan may work to deny the history of its state-sponsored sexual slavery, it can never falsify this truth of history.
    This being a hard fact, the approach of the present rulers of Japan towards the above-said issue is stunning the world public.
    After craftily evading its state responsibility for the sexual slavery by promising to pay a petty amount of money at negotiations held with south Korea at the end of last year over the issue of sexual slavery, Japan has gone so far as to deny its crimes more impudently.
    It is well illustrated by the rubbish talked by the prime minister of Japan that "there is no evidence proving the forcible drafting of women" and the fact that it is pressurizing the south Korean regime to remove the statues of a girl sexual slave.
    The chief Cabinet secretary openly expressed discontent, saying "it is a matter of great regret that the UN high commissioner for Human Rights expressed skepticism over the "agreement" made by Japan and south Korea on the issue of sexual slavery.
    Recently the Japanese government submitted to a UN body its official stand that "there is no evidence proving the coercion involved in the sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army" as regards a question raised by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
    This means that Japan still works hard to deny the coercion involved in the sexual slavery in the eyes of the international community even after the Japan-south Korea "agreement" was made in which Japan claimed itself that the issue has been settled.
    When the "document on Nanjing massacre" was registered in UNESCO as world heritage last year, Japan took issue with it and demanded the organization modify its screening system.
    All facts go to prove that the Japanese reactionaries are getting ever more undisguised in its moves to keep its hideous past crimes buried into oblivion, desperately working to block the discussion on sexual slavery in international arena.
    There can be no bright present and future for Japan as long as its crime-woven past remains unsettled.
    It is tragedy that Japan still pursues a wild dream of covering up the truth of history. 

KCNA Commentary Refutes Korean American Bae Jun Ho's False Propaganda

Korean American Bae Jun Ho (Kenneth Bae) is now cursed and censured by public for renewing his false propaganda about the DPRK.
    As already reported, Bae was arrested in the DPRK for spreading subversive religion and working hard to build "a religious state" hostile to the DPRK. For his hostile activities he was sentenced to hard labor. But thanks to the humanitarian measure taken by the DPRK out of magnanimity and good faith he was deported to the U.S. after spending nearly two years in jail.
    People say that habit is a second nature. Bae is accustomed to hostile acts against the DPRK.
    Recently Bae released an anti-DPRK book peppered with "stories" about what happened during his hard labor.
    At a book releasing ceremony sponsored by the south Korean puppet forces, Bae talked rubbish that "he is planning to set up a non-governmental organization for the fellow countrymen in the north and carry out projects helpful to the poor people in the north and defectors from the north." It is ridiculous, indeed, for Bae to be busy with the moves for establishing a non-governmental organization for some people as if he were a big philanthropist. In other words, he revealed his intention to persist in his hostile acts against the DPRK.
    At a meet-the press with U.S. congressmen he unhesitatingly spouted sheer sophism that he witnessed how could a country be a huge prison and that north Korea is a "huge prison."
    It is less than two years since he begged for sparing his dirty life in tears. He is now in such poor position as to appear as a member of a shock brigade in slandering the DPRK, clinging to the coattails of the U.S. and south Korean puppet forces.
    It is worth recalling what he wrote in the letter of apology and letter of thanks done in hot tears before being deported to the U.S.
    The following is what he wrote in his letter of apology and letter of thanks: "I sincerely thank the DPRK government for all humanitarian measures and treatment for me. I will always remain thankful to the Korean people and the DPRK and take the lead in the work for national reunification and prosperity, never forgetting benevolence bestowed upon me. I will make efforts to play the role of a bridge of friendship linking the Western world with the DPRK."
    In fact, the DPRK provided everything to Bae during his prison life from humanitarian point of view. Whenever he did not feel well, we took him to a hospital to be treated several times. We arranged his meeting with his mother and let him exchange hundreds of correspondences.
    There is a saying one's kindness should be repaid. However, Bae returns evil for good. He has not built a bridge of friendship but erected a bridge of distrust and confrontation. Is it morally right?
    Bae is the felon who betrayed not only human conscience but also religious devotion.
    Before flying to the U.S., he told officials concerned of the DPRK that he is the churchman saying truth and religionist's devotion to God is sacred and he can never betray it.
    But upon returning to the U.S., he made a U turn, going busy hatching plots with the group of Satan falsifying facts. He is none other than Judas.
    Bae Jun Ho has no option but to commit suicide.
    We have nothing to say more of Bae waiting for the day of death after being branded as a despicable bete noire.
    What matters is the double-dealing nature of the U.S. government as it promised to prevent the recurrence of such behavior while conducting "rescuing operation" of American criminals under the signboard of "humanitarianism" but it gives a shot in the arm of those guys as soon as its representatives went back.
    It is the American society where different anti-DPRK organizations are strutting about, prodding such human scum and half wits as Bae Jun Ho into taking the lead in the false propaganda to mislead public opinion.
    It is a hard fact that the U.S. government is behind these organizations.
    It is the true picture of the American society where there is profound confusing of right and wrong, injustice beats justice and human rights are wantonly abused.
    The U.S. government should bear in mind that if it resorts to the anti-DPRK propaganda under the signboard of "human rights", the fate of the U.S. citizens now serving jail terms in the DPRK will become more miserable.
    The DPRK will neither make any compromise nor conduct negotiations with the U.S. over the issue of American criminals nor take any humanitarian measure as long as Bae Jun Ho keeps spouting invectives against the DPRK.
    Then American criminals now in custody in the DPRK will never be able to go back to the U.S.
    The DPRK's clarification of this stand is not just a warning. 

Major Variable of Situation on Korean Peninsula Depends on U.S.: KCNA Commentary

The U.S. nuclear-powered submarine Mississippi entered Pusan Port of south Korea on June 13.
    The U.S. undisguised preparations in its mainland for the "operation of precision air strike" at the DPRK's nuclear facilities and nuclear force are timed to coincide with the introduction of two U.S. nuclear aircraft carriers in the waters of Asia-Pacific near the Korean peninsula. This pushes the already instable situation on the peninsula to more uncontrollable phase.
    The input of various U.S. strategic assets into the peninsula is a grave challenge to the security of the DPRK and peace of the region.
    Peaceful circumstances are more precious than anything else for the DPRK as it makes a general offensive to attain a high goal of building a socialist power.
    But the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and moves pursuant to it aimed to stifle the DPRK politically and militarily and isolate its economy have now reached a grave phase that can no longer be overlooked.
    Despite such situation the U.S. politicaldom including White House is making such rubbish that "the change of the U.S. administration's DPRK policy depends on the change of north Korea".
    How can tension be defused and stability ensured on the Korean peninsula by unilateral efforts of the one side when the U.S. keeps introducing strategic means?
    The U.S. made very hasty and strategically wrong decision this time, too.
    The evil cycle of tensions persisting in the Korean peninsula is entirely attributable to the U.S. perverted view.
    The U.S. has refused to recognize the ideology and social system in the DPRK and posed unrelenting nuclear threats to it after designating it as a target of preemptive nuclear strike. To resolutely counter it is a clear exercise of the DPRK's right to self-defence to protect the security and peace of the country.
    Peace, most valuable for the country and nation, can be protected and guaranteed only when one's own strength is built up and one's own efforts are exerted. This is the truth taught by the present grave situation.
    The DPRK is ready both for dialogue and physical step.
    The major variable of the situation on the Korean peninsula depends on what attitude the U.S. will take. 

NDC Spokesman Warns U.S. of Nuclear Counter-action

These days the situation of the Korean peninsula is being rapidly pushed to the danger of the outbreak of a nuclear war.
    A formation of nuclear strategic bombers B-52H under the 8th Air Force of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces on Guam was busy with a nuclear bomb dropping drill under the pretext of the exercise for long-range flight and air-strike at strategic targets on June 17.
    The U.S. introduced the nuclear-powered submarine Mississippi capable of mounting a nuclear attack on the rival side into Pusan Port of south Korea on June 13.
    A spokesman for the National Defence Commission of the DPRK said in a statement on Sunday in this regard:
    The recent long-range flight exercise was a preparation for rapidly flying into the air over the Korean peninsula and the exercise for air-strike at strategic targets was a mobile rehearsal for making a surprise strike at the nuclear facilities, etc. of the DPRK.
    The introduction of the nuclear-powered nuclear submarine into south Korea from other waters is aimed at examining the actual possibility of hurling a nuclear force in case of the second Korean war.
    The U.S. imperialists are none other than the gangsters who do not hesitate to ignite nuclear and other wars to carry out their sinister ambition to shake the DPRK's will and resolute decision by wielding a nuclear stick.
    This is the true colors of the present U.S. administration loud-mouthed about "a world without nuclear weapons" and an ulterior aim of forcing the DPRK "to dismantle its nukes first."
    The reality goes to prove that the banner of simultaneously developing the two fronts held high by the service personnel and people of the DPRK is the best one to protect peace of the country and security of the nation from the disaster of a nuclear war.
    Peace is dear to the DPRK.
    But, it does not wish to achieve peace by begging and sympathy.
    Our way of achieving peace is to mount a prompt and merciless preemptive attack of our style on any enemy no matter from where it is coming to disturb peace which is so dear to us.
    The Korean People's Army has long put into the range of its precision strike the U.S. bases and logistic bases for invading the DPRK, including the Anderson Air Force Base on Guam where B-52Hs are deployed and naval bases for nuclear submarines.
    The U.S. should stop running amuck to realize its anachronistic daydream.
    The U.S. must know better about the capability of nuclear counter-attack of the DPRK, a nuclear power in the East.
    Rash actions disregarding reality would only invite a serious disaster.
    The service personnel and people of the DPRK will dynamically advance to win a great victory, decisively foiling the "sanctions" of all hostile forces against the DPRK and their moves to stifle it and nuclear threats and blackmail against it.
    The final victory is in store for the great Workers' Party of Korea and service personnel and people of the DPRK. 

Kim Jong Un Visits National Defence University

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, provided field guidance to the National Defence University.

He paid tribute to the statues of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il at the university.

Watching the statues of smiling Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, he said with deep emotion that the university is associated with the exploits they performed by tirelessly working heart and soul for developing the Juche-oriented national defence industry in the whole period of their revolutionary careers.

He said that the statues of the great leaders were erected at the university on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's visit to it, adding that this was a great event of weighty significance in adding eternal shine to the immortal revolutionary exploits of the great leaders recorded in the history of education in the Juche-oriented national defence science and constituted an immense pride and happiness of all teaching staff and students of the university and personnel in the field of the national defence industry.

He went round the room for the education in the revolutionary history and room dedicated to the history of the university.

Kim Il Sung proclaimed the founding of the National Defence College, the predecessor of the National Defence University, in October, 1964 and visited it several times and took meticulous care of it including the establishment of departments, students' uniform, cap-badge and collar badge and clearly indicated the road to be followed by it.

Kim Jong Il took a measure to newly build the university in an excellent place and led it with loving care so that it could fulfill its mission and duty as a center for training national defence scientific and technical personnel.

Watching historic data, Kim Jong Un said that the university has developed into the highest seat of training Juche-oriented national defence scientific and technical personnel having hundreds of persons with academic degrees and titles, several colleges, faculties, a doctorial institute, etc.

Looking at photos on the board introducing heroes one by one, he said that there are many acquaintances at the university, a clear proof that it has covered a proud path following the party. The university has produced a lot of personnel who have protected our party, he added.

He went round various places of the university including an exhibition hall of education science, e-library, weaponry hall, etc. to learn in detail about the teaching and education and scientific research.

He set forth the tasks to be fulfilled by the university.

Noting that the National Defence University is one of the universities for which he has the deepest affection and to which he attaches importance, he said he would frequently receive reports on the problems arising in the teaching and education at the university and personally settle them. He promised to turn the university into the most prestigious one in the country, an iconic university training hardcore personnel and talents who would shoulder upon themselves the national defence science and the world first class one.

He had a photo session with the officials and teachers of the university.

He was accompanied by Ri Man Gon, vice-chairman of the C.C., the WPK, Yu Jin and Jo Yong Won, vice department directors of the C.C., the WPK.

Kim Jong Un Inspects Ryugyong Pickle Factory

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), first chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission (NDC) and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, gave field guidance to the newly-built Ryugyong Pickle Factory.

The factory is a modern pickle production base built under the loving care of Kim Jong Un.

He settled all the problems arising in the construction of the factory, noting that it was needed to build a modern pickle factory with large capacity whose industrialization is put on a higher level in order to supply Pyongyang citizens with tasty pickles on a normal basis in all seasons, and named it "Ryugyong Pickle Factory".

True to his noble intention, officials, scientists, technicians and builders built in the suburbs of Pyongyang the factory with a total floor space of more than 15 660 square meters that is capable of producing over 4 200 tons of pickles a year.

Kim Jong Un went round different parts of the factory to learn in detail about the technical specifications of its production processes and equipment.

Noting that the production processes of whole cabbage kimchi, hot pickles of chopped radishes and pickling are furnished with modern equipment designed by our scientists and technicians and manufactured by our own efforts, he gave a high appreciation of the fact that many successes were made in implementing the Party's policy of locally producing whatever necessary.

It is the Party's intention to build the Ryugyong Pickle Factory into an icon and standard unit for the country's industrial production of kimchi, he said, giving instructions for its materialization.

He stressed the need to build a modern pickle factory in each province on the basis of the experience gained from the construction of the Ryugyong Pickle Factory.

Kimchi is one of the Korean nation's most favorite traditional dishes and it is well-known as one of the world's five health foods, he said, urging the factory to make it more delicious than that produced by individual households and thus make it a favorite dish of the citizens and the best food in the world.

He expressed his conviction that the officials and employees of the factory would produce various kinds of fresh pickles with high nutritive value and peculiar taste to supply to the public catering establishments in the city of Pyongyang and its citizens and thus make positive contribution to the improvement of people's diet.

Accompanying him were Vice-Chairman O Su Yong, Department Director An Jong Su and vice department directors Jo Yong Won and Sin Man Gyun of the WPK Central Committee and Ma Won Chun, director of the Designing Department of the NDC.

Kim Jong Un Watches Performance Given by School children

 "We Are the Happiest in the World", a performance of schoolchildren for celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the Korean Children's Union (KCU), was given with splendor at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, watched the performance together with the delegates to the celebrations of the 70th founding anniversary of the KCU.

The performance began with prologue "Glory to the Respected Marshal".

The repertoire included song and dance "Generalissimo Danced with Us", chorus "General and Children" and instrumental music and song "We Are the Happiest in the World", winner of Kim Il Sung Prize and Kim Jong Il Prize.

The performers showed well that the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who ushered in the bright heyday of the Juche-oriented children's movement and provided the most advantageous socialist system on this land with their noble love for the rising generations and the future are the eternal sun of the three million members of the KCU and that the Marshal who ushers in the bright future of the new generations precisely means the homeland.

The performance instilled the conviction that the future of the KCU members who are stoutly growing up to be dependable pillars of a socialist power of Juche under the leadership of Kim Jong Un would be bright. It ended with epilogue "Forward Following Footsteps of Marshal Kim Jong Un".

Kim Jong Un congratulated the schoolchildren on their successful performance and warmly acknowledged the enthusiastically cheering audience.

Watching the performance together with him were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Ri Il Hwan, department director of the WPK Central Committee, Jon Yong Nam, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, and officials of the youth league.

Kim Jong Un Inspects Ryugyong Pickle Factory

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), first chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission (NDC) and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, gave field guidance to the newly-built Ryugyong Pickle Factory.

The factory is a modern pickle production base built under the loving care of Kim Jong Un.

He settled all the problems arising in the construction of the factory, noting that it was needed to build a modern pickle factory with large capacity whose industrialization is put on a higher level in order to supply Pyongyang citizens with tasty pickles on a normal basis in all seasons, and named it "Ryugyong Pickle Factory".

True to his noble intention, officials, scientists, technicians and builders built in the suburbs of Pyongyang the factory with a total floor space of more than 15 660 square meters that is capable of producing over 4 200 tons of pickles a year.

Kim Jong Un went round different parts of the factory to learn in detail about the technical specifications of its production processes and equipment.

Noting that the production processes of whole cabbage kimchi, hot pickles of chopped radishes and pickling are furnished with modern equipment designed by our scientists and technicians and manufactured by our own efforts, he gave a high appreciation of the fact that many successes were made in implementing the Party's policy of locally producing whatever necessary.

It is the Party's intention to build the Ryugyong Pickle Factory into an icon and standard unit for the country's industrial production of kimchi, he said, giving instructions for its materialization.

He stressed the need to build a modern pickle factory in each province on the basis of the experience gained from the construction of the Ryugyong Pickle Factory.

Kimchi is one of the Korean nation's most favorite traditional dishes and it is well-known as one of the world's five health foods, he said, urging the factory to make it more delicious than that produced by individual households and thus make it a favorite dish of the citizens and the best food in the world.

He expressed his conviction that the officials and employees of the factory would produce various kinds of fresh pickles with high nutritive value and peculiar taste to supply to the public catering establishments in the city of Pyongyang and its citizens and thus make positive contribution to the improvement of people's diet.

Accompanying him were Vice-Chairman O Su Yong, Department Director An Jong Su and vice department directors Jo Yong Won and Sin Man Gyun of the WPK Central Committee and Ma Won Chun, director of the Designing Department of the NDC.

Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with KCU Delegates

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, had a photo session with the delegates to the celebrations of the 70th founding anniversary of the Korean Children's Union (KCU) at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace.

When Kim Jong Un arrived there, all the KCU delegates broke into thunderous cheers of "hurrah!" looking up to him.

He warmly acknowledged them with a broad smile on his face.

KCU members presented him with bouquets.

He warmly congratulated the KCU delegates who are holding in high esteem as the eternal sun the great Generalissimos
Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who performed undying exploits for the development of the Juche-based children's movement and stoutly growing up to be juvenile patriots and masters of the youth powerhouse who would shoulder upon themselves the future of Korea. Then he had a photo session with them.

After the photo session, he, acknowledging the enthusiastic cheers of the participants, expressed the conviction that the KCU members who are pride and hope of Juche Korea would stoutly grow up to be dependable reserves for the building of a socialist power, knowledgeable, moral and healthy, while further exalting the honor of the glorious KCU of Kim Il Sung and
Kim Jong Il that has developed under their care.

Present there were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Ri Il Hwan, department director of the WPK Central Committee, and Jon Yong Nam, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.

Kim Jong Un Watches Performance Given by Schoolchildren

 "We Are the Happiest in the World", a performance of schoolchildren for celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of the Korean Children's Union (KCU), was given with splendor at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace on Tuesday.

Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, watched the performance together with the delegates to the celebrations of the 70th founding anniversary of the KCU.

The performance began with prologue "Glory to the Respected Marshal".

The repertoire included song and dance "Generalissimo Danced with us", chorus "General and Children" and instrumental music and song "We Are the Happiest in the World", winner of Kim Il Sung Prize and Kim Jong Il Prize.

The performers showed well that the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il who ushered in the bright heyday of the Juche-oriented children's movement and provided the most advantageous socialist system on this land with their noble love for the rising generations and the future are the eternal sun of the three million members of the KCU and that the Marshal who ushers in the bright future of the new generations precisely means the homeland.

The performance instilled the conviction that the future of the KCU members who are stoutly growing up to be dependable pillars of a socialist power of Juche under the leadership of Kim Jong Un would be bright. It ended with epilogue "Forward Following Footsteps of Marshal Kim Jong Un".

Kim Jong Un congratulated the schoolchildren on their successful performance and warmly acknowledged the enthusiastically cheering audience.

Watching the performance together with him were Choe Ryong Hae, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Ri Il Hwan, department director of the WPK Central Committee, Jon Yong Nam, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, and officials of the youth league.

Echo of June 15

An eye-opening event took place in Pyongyang, the capital city of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in June 2000. The inter-Korean summit talks were held after 55 years of Korea’s division into the north and the south, and the historic June 15 North-South Joint Declaration was adopted on settling the reunification issue of the country independently and peacefully.

As soon as it was made public, the joint declaration was warmly welcomed, evoking sympathy of broad sections of international community as well as the entire Korean people. It brought about a dramatic change in accomplishing the cause of reunification of the Korean nation and ushered in a new era beyond imagination in the past on the Korean peninsula.

Dialogues and negotiations were held between the north and the south of Korea in the political, economic, cultural, military and other fields, producing good results in achieving reconciliation and unity, cooperation and exchange. The functions for Korea’s reunification, which had been organized separately in the north and the south, took place in Pyongyang, Seoul, Mt. Kumgang and other places as grand festivals of reunification, participated in by the delegates from the north, south and abroad, amid great expectations and interest of the whole Korean nation. Demonstrations of Taekwon-Do, the martial arts of the Korean nation, games of athletes from the north and the south, joint performances of artistes from the both sides, joint material exhibitions and seminars of historians, joint photo exhibitions and the like took place in Pyongyang and Seoul. The scene of the joint entry of the sportspersons from the north and the south with the flag bearing the map of Korea at the opening ceremony in the Sydney Olympics in September 2000 touched many people in the world. Such scenes showing the will of the Korean nation to reunify their country could be also witnessed in the 14^th Asian Games in September 2002, the Athens Olympics in August 2004 and the 15^th Asian Games in December 2006.

Air, land and sea routes which had been blocked for over half a century were relinked and separated families and relatives in the north and the south had meetings of emotional reunion. Many south Korean people visited Pyongyang to enjoy the mass gymnastics and artistic performance Arirang that is recorded in the Guinness World Records as the greatest in scale in the world, and went sightseeing tours to Mts. Paektu, Kumgang and Myohyang and other scenic spots in the north.

Humanitarian activities between the north and the south were promoted on an extensive scale, and an industrial park jointly run by the north and the south was established in Kaesong along the Military Demarcation Line dividing Korea, inviting over one hundred south Korean enterprises into the area for joint prosperity.

In 2007, the October 4 Declaration, the action programme of the June 15 Joint Declaration, was adopted, thus opening up a brighter prospect for the reunification movement of the Korean nation.

Remarkable changes in the north-south relations were brilliant fruition of the June 15 Joint Declaration in which both north and south Korea promised to achieve the country’s reunification and common prosperity of the nation by the concerted efforts of the Korean nation. The Korean people, therefore, called the era of such a marvellous reality, which had been unimaginable in the past, the “June 15 reunification era.”

However, the June 15 reunification era faced the serious challenge after Lee Myung Bak took power in south Korea.

The Lee Myung Bak group denied in an all-round way the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration as soon as it took office, hindering in every way the promotion of the north-south cooperation, the precious fruit of the June 15 reunification era, and committing ceaselessly military provocations to drive the north-south relations into confrontation. Almost all the exchanges and cooperation between the both sides were cut off, and tourism on Mt. Kumgang, a symbol of the travel between the north and the south, was fully interrupted. The situation on the Korean peninsula was strained to breaking point when a war might start owing to the persistent pursuit of dependence on outside forces and showdown with the fellow countrymen by the Lee Myung Bak clan.

The acute north-south relations faced a more serious crisis by the present Park Geun Hye regime. The new regime, chiming in with the United States that accused the north of its peaceful satellite launch, was in front in the racket of international “sanctions” against the north, thus cutting off completely the work of cooperation of inter-Korean non-governmental organizations, which had been scarcely sustained. It slandered the dignity of north Korea, depicting the Kaesong Industrial Park which was a priceless fruition of June 15 Joint Declaration and was maintained even in grave situation, as the “source of money.” It even planned to make the peaceful industrial zone the hotbed of a war by committing a US commando into the area, for an alleged hostage rescue operation. These moves further drove the KIP to the brink of complete closure.

All the facts prove clearly that when the June 15 Joint Declaration is supported and put into practice the north and the south of Korea can advance towards peace and reunification, whereas the denial and frustration of the declaration will incur only confrontation and war. Everybody has acquired a palpable truth that the positive attitude towards the June 15 Joint Declaration is just reunification and the negative one a war.

The vital power of the June 15 Joint Declaration is eternal.

Now the Korean people are waging a nationwide struggle to hold fast to the June 15 Joint Declaration and bring about again the era of peace, reunification and prosperity. The south Korean people demand the observation of the joint declaration and its thorough implementation, condemning the south Korean rulers who drove the north-south relations into catastrophe.

The international community sincerely hopes that the Korean people will achieve the reunification of their nation at an early date under the banner of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration and consolidate peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

DPRK Minister of People's Armed Forces on Nuclear Deterrent for Self-Defense

Army General Pak Yong Sik, minister of the People's Armed Forces of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, issued a statement on Thursday.
    According to the statement, the 2016 Asia Security Conference was held in Singapore recently.
    If the objective of the conference had been to ensure security in Asia, it should have discussed and solved necessary practical measures.
    But the defense chiefs of the U.S., Japan and south Korea held a confab irrelevant to the conference at which they cried out for "thoroughly enforcing the sanctions against the north" and boosting "cooperation," claiming that the DPRK's fourth nuclear test and missile launch are a "violation" of the UNSC's "resolution" and international law.
    In the end, they blustered that they would not hastily opt for dialogue before the DPRK clarifies its "will to dismantle its nukes" and discussed the issue of boosting military cooperation in the efforts to cope with the "threat from the north" including the increased "sharing of military information about the north" by kicking off a missile warning drill in July.
    It is the height of shamelessness for them to mislead public opinion by terming the DPRK's dignified nuclear force for self-defense and Strategic Force a "threat" even at the international security conference, the statement said, and went on:
    The U.S. is the only nuclear criminal state in the world and the largest nuclear weapons state in the world.
    Japan is a militarist state which is vociferating about a military giant and nuclear weaponization after throwing away even the showy "Pacifist Constitution" and "three non-nuclear principles".
    The south Korean puppet forces are crying out for even "nuclear weaponization to counter the north's nukes", not content with getting frantic with confrontation while conducting Hyonmu missile launching test with the firing range of 800 km they claimed capable of putting all areas of the DPRK in the striking range at the prodding of their masters U.S. and Japan.
    Openly revealed at the tripartite confab was the scenario to further intensify new hostile acts against the DPRK while taking issue with its nukes and missile "threat".
    It is preposterous for those wholly responsible for ensuring peace and security on the Korean peninsula to justify their attempt at aggression, blaming others.
    Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we reiterate our stand that nuclear deterrent for self-defense is an all-powerful treasure sword tightly held by the DPRK to cope with the hostile forces' moves for invading it.
    Our warning is by no means an empty talk.
    Any force hostile to the DPRK is bound to go to ruin.
    This is proved by history. 

U.S. Urged to Make Bold Decision, Facing Up to Trend of Times

The participants in the joint conference of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations sent an open letter to the United States of America on Friday.
    The letter said that it is the invariable desire and wishes of the Korean people to achieve the eternal prosperity of the nation in a peaceful world and build a reunified prospering country.
    The new line and policies for national reunification laid down at the historic Seventh Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea held recently are the historic declaration of weighty significance in settling the issue of the Korean peninsula and ensuring global peace, it noted.
    If one has a right thinking and judgment, one cannot but sympathize with the stand of the DPRK that the issue of national reunification should be settled in line with the will and wishes of the Korean nation responsible for the issue by its concerted efforts and recognize its validity, the letter said.
    But only the U.S., far from properly complying with the due demand of the DPRK, is persistently stemming the trend of history toward peace and reunification through its dishonest assertions and belligerent acts and also drawing its followers into its moves, the letter charged.
    The joint conference of the DPRK government, political parties and organizations held on June 9 as regards the prevailing situation decided to send an open letter to the U.S., reflecting the following principled stand of the DPRK:
    Firstly, the U.S. should make a bold decision to roll back its hostile policy toward the DPRK which should not be pursued any longer.
    The U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK which has been pursued since its founding is a blatant challenge to the aspiration, desire and just cause of the Korean people to protect their ideology, social system, sovereignty and vital rights.
    Though belatedly, the U.S. should make a reasonable judgment for itself and make a political bold decision to valiantly root out its hostile policy toward the DPRK which was wrong from the outset and whose fatal consequences can hardly be counted.
    The U.S. would be well advised to choose a new way of thinking and opt for new practice, away from the old framework of its anachronistic hostile policy toward the DPRK which has shackled its thinking and practice for a long period. This would be the wisest attitude which it can take and which can be welcomed.
    Secondly, the U.S should immediately stop arms buildup and the exercises for a war against the DPRK in south Korea, the root cause of escalating tension, and take the new road of ensuring genuine peace and security on the Korean peninsula.
    It is not the U.S. but the DPRK, which has emerged victorious in political, military and moral terms in the confrontation that has lasted century after century and won laurels as the strong.
    The U.S. has anxiously waited for what it called "collapse" while channeling all efforts into the campaign for isolating, blockading and putting military pressure on the DPRK and for provoking a war. Now it might have realized how ignorant and foolish it has been.
    The way of settling an issue with a rival possessed of nuclear weapons should be shown by the U.S. itself.
    The U.S. had better think twice over the lesson of history reflected in the bitter confession made by a defeated general that he fought a wrong war with a wrong rival in wrong time in wrong place and frankly accept the DPRK's just peace initiative and proposal before missing an opportunity.
    Thirdly, the U.S. should refrain from the foolish act of meddling in the internal affairs of the Korean nation, fostering confrontation and blocking its independent reunification any longer.
    The U.S. is the main stumbling block in the way of settling the issue of Korea's reunification as it is stoking hostility and stand-off between the north and the south and escalating tensions by interfering in the internal affairs of the nation.
    The desire, wishes and demands of the Korean nation serve as the standard and yardstick for settling the issue of the destiny of the Korean nation, the matter of reunification, under any circumstances and the U.S. neither has anything to do with this nor has any right to meddle in it.
    The U.S. should give a clear answer to the Korean nation's solemn question as to whether it will be shamefully driven out of Korea after facing a stern punishment in the world's eyes or take hands off the Korean issue and quit south Korea of its own accord as befitting "American gentleman."
    It should no longer stem the strong trend of the history of the nation advancing toward independence, peace, reconciliation, unity, reunification and prosperity but stop the foolish act of hurling a handful of pro-U.S. stooges into sowing seeds of discord among Koreans and fostering confrontation.
    History and time will clearly prove that this warning served by the DPRK to the U.S. is by no means an empty talk.
    Taking this opportunity, we would like to express the conviction that the fair-minded and sensible figures and people of broad strata in the U.S. would positively respond to the fair and aboveboard, peace-loving and sincere appeal of the DPRK. 

KCNA Slams U.S. Anachronistic Policy of Strength

The U.S. is getting ever more frantic in its moves to develop ultra-modern weapons despite the opposition and rebuff by the international community.
    The U.S. recently opened to public the test of new electromagnetic-orbit gun (Electromagnetic Railgun) in the wake of its long-diving test of the double-mode submarine not long ago.
    Electromagnetic Railgun which fires a shell without powder explosion by using the character of the electromagnetic field was developed by the U.S. Navy with an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars. It is a weapon of mass destruction as it is called a "weapon capable of intercepting missiles of China and Russia" in the territory of the U.S.
    The U.S. frantic development of the above-said weapons amid global nuclear arms race is a revelation of its anachronistic policy of strength to contain its major rivals with an unchallenged military edge and prevent its position as a "superpower" from sinking.
    It is long since the position of the U.S. as the "only superpower in the world" sank owing to its criminal moves for world domination.
    When the U.S. was saddled with huge national debt and in the grip of the crisis caused by economic slump due to its reckless "anti-terrorism war" and moves for establishing the system of unipolar domination, the Asia-Pacific region rapidly emerged a hub of world development in the 21st century.
    The U.S. should have given up its ambition for domination which is precipitating its doom.
    However, it is foolishly trying to contain China making rapid economic growth in Asia and Russia which recovered the position as a power and to dominate the Asia-Pacific region, far from drawing a lesson from its difficult position, blinded by its scenario for world domination.
    Against this backdrop the U.S. came out with the pivot to Asia-Pacific strategy in which it adopted large-scale arms build-up in the region as its policy. It is part of its scenario for carrying out this strategy to step up the development of ultra-modern weapons while modernizing nuclear weapons.
    This is clearly proved by the fact that on Feb. 25 the U.S. deputy secretary of Defense blustered that in the wake of test-fire of ICBM Minuteman 3, it was aimed to send a message that the weapon is capable of making a nuclear strike at big powers in the Asia-Pacific region, and U.S. reptile media are billing the electromagnetic-orbit gun as a "weapon of dream" for containing Russia and China.
    It is as clear as pikestaff that the arms race and political and military tension are bound to escalate in the Asia-Pacific region due to the U.S. development of WMDs and arms build-up.
    The U.S. policy of strength remains unchanged. Consequently, the moves for multi-polarization against it are sure to be stepped up.
    It is self-evident that the U.S. ridiculous policy of strength can never help realize its "dream" of conquering the world.
    The U.S. anachronistic strategy for domination is bound to go bust. 

KCNA Commentary Ridicules Park Geun Hye's Burlesque

    The south Korean chief executive Park Geun Hye who had expended all her energies for soliciting "cooperation in the campaign to force the north to dismantle nukes" during her recent junket to Africa was so seriously exhausted that she was administered intravenous drip injection and had a rest.
    She had drip injections when she visited Canada and took part in the UN General Assembly in September, 2014 and when she visited American countries in April last year all to beg for cooperation in her moves for escalating confrontation with the fellow countrymen in the north. These became a laughing stock of the international community.
    Touring African countries this time, too, Park cried out for "consistent reaction of the international community" while terming the nuclear development of the DPRK "a serious threat to the world peace". Her trip was clearly aimed at escalating confrontation with the DPRK as she disclosed her despicable intention to slander the fellow countrymen in utter disregard of to whom she was talking and how they are responding to her.
    What she did during her junket to Africa touched off indignation and rage of all the Koreans as she stooped to any infamy to serve the purpose of garnering support for her policy for confrontation with the DPRK from outsiders and doing harm to her fellow countrymen through conspiracy with outsiders.
    Sophism and vituperation of Park are just the symptom of confrontational maniac on the deathbed totally bereft of normal thinking and judging faculties. They are just hysteric fit to cover up the sacred mission and peace-loving nature of the nuclear weapons of the DPRK and to keep afloat the cooperation in the efforts to escalate confrontation with the DPRK.
    She hurled mud at the DPRK's line for simultaneous development of the two fronts and its measure for bolstering capabilities for self-defence and worked hard to build up international public opinion over the non-existent "threat." By doing so she sought to justify her long bankrupt policy for confrontation with the DPRK and do harm to and stifle the fellow countrymen at any cost with the help of outsiders.
    The DPRK's nuclear deterrence is neither a means for negotiations nor a bargaining chip for getting something.
    Our nuclear weapons are a treasured sword for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world, and are also treasure common to the nation which guarantees the nation's reconciliation and reunification.
    It is quite natural for the DPRK to bolster deterrence for self-defence in every way with the nuclear weapons as a backbone to cope with the open threat of war from the aggressors and provokers, and no one is entitled to slander this.
    To deny the DPRK's line on simultaneous development of the two fronts and its measure for bolstering capabilities for self-defence is a denial of the political system in the DPRK and an insult to its dignity and sovereignty.
    It is foolhardy for Park to dare try to do harm to the DPRK through mendicant diplomacy by frequently visiting outsiders. No matter how frequently she stages rackets for isolating and stifling the DPRK in collusion with outsiders, they will only bring her curse and denunciation from the nation and shame in the world eyes.
    Park had better drop the unrealizable ambition for forcing "the north to scrap nuclear weapons" and properly face up to the world and behave herself.