KPA Statement

KPA Supreme Command: World Should Know Who Is Provoker

The Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army released the following communique December 20,2010.

The U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet military warmongers perpetrated such reckless military provocation as firing thousands of bullets and shells from the sensitive area of Yonphyong Island in the West Sea of Korea for an hour from 14:30 Monday despite strong warning of the KPA and condemnation of the public at home and abroad, far from drawing a lesson from the disgraceful defeat they suffered in the last Yonphyong Island shelling.

Their military provocation was a product of their cunning scenario to deliberately lead the military counteraction of the DPRK to driving the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a war and thus save the U.S. Asia policy and strategy toward the DPRK from bankruptcy.

It was, at the same time, to serve the propaganda purpose as it was aimed at saving the face of the present puppet authorities now finding themselves in such profound ruling crisis that it is hard for them to complete the tenure of their office because of their ignorance and incompetence and delivering the puppet military from its decline.

This was nothing but a childish play with fire of cowards without an equal as they made much fuss, firing shells left unused during the military provocation on November 23 after shifting by stealth the waters to be a scene of the projected shelling and its target for fear of the KPA's second and third retaliatory blows for self-defence.

The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK did not feel any need to retaliate against every despicable military provocation like one taking revenge after facing a blow.

The second and third powerful retaliatory strike to be made by the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK knowing no limit as declared before the world will lead to blowing up the bases of the U.S. and south Korean puppet warmongers.

The world should properly know who is the true champion of peace and who is the real provocateur of a war.

DPRK FM Statement

FM Spokesman Warns US of Serious Consequences of Worst Situation

A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the following statement on December 17,2010 as regards the touch-and-go situation prevailing on the Korean Peninsula due to such projected military provocation of the south Korean puppet forces as planning to conduct again shelling from Yonphyong Island under the instigation of the U.S.:

Lurking behind the plan of the U.S. and the south Korean puppet forces to persistently conduct shelling from Yonphyong Island, the most sensitive dispute-torn area, is a sinister design to preserve the "northern limit line" and ignite a war at any cost.

By origin, this line was an illegal product as it was in violation of the Korean Armistice Agreement and all military moves of the south Korean puppet forces to defend it are gross violation of the AA.

According to Paragraph 13 of Article 2 of the AA, all the islands lying to the north and west of the provincial boundary line between Hwanghae Province and Kyonggi Province, except five islands including Paekryong and Yonphyong islands under the occupation of U.S. forces at that time, and all waters come under the control of the KPA side. And according to Paragraph 15 of Article 2 of the AA, the other side is barred from conducting any military action in the coastal areas under the control of the KPA side and in case of any such action the KPA side has the right to take whatever action it deems necessary.

After the conclusion of the AA, Clark, UN forces commander, unilaterally fixed the "northern limit line." This was a wanton violation of Paragraph 61 of Article 5 of the AA which stipulates that any modification of the AA can be made only under an agreement between both sides.

U.S. authorities including the U.S. secretary of State and the U.S. ambassador in south Korea admitted in the 1970s that the "northern limit line" was an illegal line in violation of international law.

Even when the U.S. and the south Korean puppet forces recently staged provocative military exercises one after another, the DPRK exercised self-restraint to the maximum unless their bullets and shells directly dropped in the territorial waters of the DPRK, prompted by the desire to prevent the situation from deteriorating on the Korean Peninsula and protect peace and stability.

Nevertheless, they are planning to fire shells again into territorial waters of the DPRK from Yonphyong Island where the atmosphere of fierce battle prevails due to the military clash that occurred in November. This is an intolerable mockery of the self-restraint on the part of the DPRK and an unjustifiable hostile provocation.

The shelling to be perpetrated by the puppet forces of south Korea at last, trespassing on the prohibiting line would make it impossible to prevent the situation on the Korean Peninsula from exploding and escape its ensuing disaster.

The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK has already clarified solemnly that they would mete out decisive and merciless punishment to the provocateurs who encroach upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DPRK.

The KPA does not make an empty talk.

It is necessary to clearly state in advance that the hostile forces will be accountable for the second Yonphyong Island incident in the light of the fact that they tried to paint the first Yonphyong Island clash as a "provocation" of the DPRK.

The U.S. is wholly to blame for the incident as it instigated the south Korean puppet forces to perpetrated the provocation. The entire international community including the neighboring countries is demanding an unconditional halt to the dangerous shelling from the island but it is only the U.S. that is openly egging them onto it.

It is, at the same time, making such threat and blackmail to the DPRK as urging it not to take any measure for self-defence.

After flying into south Korea in the first half of this month the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff carefully worked out together with the puppet military warmongers a plan for shelling from the island to be staged by the south Korean forces with the assistance of U.S. forces. This plan calls on the U.S. troops to take a direct part in the projected shelling under the guise of command and observation, the provision of communication and medical care and the U.S. forces present in south Korea and all the troops of the puppet army to support the shelling, keeping themselves combat-ready.

The U.S. Department of State sent a threatening message to the DPRK, urging it not to forget there are Americans and foreign reporters on the island. The U.S. is providing even "a human shield."

All facts patently prove that the U.S. does not hesitate to harass peace and stability of a country for meeting its strategic interests.

The DPRK will force the U.S. to pay dearly for all the worst situations prevailing on the peninsula and its ensuing consequences.

December 24 in DPRK

December 24 is a day of special significance in the DPRK as a series of happy events took place that day.

December 24, 1917

Kim Jong Suk(1917-1949) whom the Korean people boundlessly reverse as anti-Japanese heroine was born that day.

Born in the days of national sufferings when Korea was under the Japanese military rule(1905-1945), she took part in the anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare in her early years with arms in her hands and made a great contribution to the cause of Korea’s liberation. She also performed great exploits in the building a a new society after liberation.

The greatest of her feats is that she devotedly safeguarded the headquarters of the Korean revolution. She carried out to the end the orders given by General Kim Il Sung, the peerless great man of the Korean nation, fought at the cost of her life against phenomena running counter to his idea and lines and protected him from danger in fierce battles by devoting herself like a shield.

She was an outstanding commanding officer, competent political worker and master shot. Her image is enshrined in the minds of the Korean people for her warm love for the people and her devotion for the comrades.

What is distinctive in her exploits is that she provided a sure guarantee for carrying forward the socialist cause of Korea through generations.

Her life and exploits will shine forever together with the prosperous socialist Korea.

December 24, 1991

Leader Kim Jong Il was appointed the Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army that day.

It was when socialist Korea was faced with unprecedented trials. Taking advantage of the collapse of socialism in some countries, the imperialists were stepping up the anti-socialist offensive against the DPRK.

Kim Jong Il, who assumed a heavy responsibility of the KPA supreme commandership at such a time, frustrated the aggressive schemes of the imperialists and ensured the security of socialist Korea by strengthening the army into invincible powerful forces. He defined Songun politics as the main political mode of socialism and embodied it in a comprehensive way, thus putting the national power involving not only military affairs but politics, the economy and culture on the highest stage. As he, with the conviction of sure victory and iron will, stood in the van of the army and the people, socialism of Korea could be saved from crisis and its invincibility demonstrated throughout the world.

He safeguarded not merely socialism. In the days of life-and-death struggle to safeguard socialism he unfolded a plan for building a great, prosperous and powerful nation and provided a springboard for it, with the result that the DPRK ushered in a new era of building a thriving nation.

It is quite natural for the Korean people to significantly celebrate December 24 when he was appointed the Supreme Commander of the KPA.

December 24, 2008

That day the torch of a new revolutionary upsurge was rekindled in the DPRK. While proving field guidance to the Chollima Steel Complex, the leading base of metallurgical industry of the country, Kim Jong Il sparked it off.

The DPRK had a prototype of a revolutionary upsurge called “Chollimia great surge.” One day in December 1956, three years after the Korean war(1950-1953) unleashed by the US imperialists, President Kim Il Sung met the workers of the Kangson Steel Plant(the predecessor of the present Chollima Steel Complex). He told them that if they produce 10,000 tons of structural steel more it would help the country greatly, and kindled the flames for increased production and innovations. True to the President’s call the steelworkers in Kangson performed a miracle of producing 120,000 tons of steel billets in a blooming mill with a capacity of turning out 60,000 tons. Their examples resulted in creating the vortex of Chollima great surge (Chollima is a legendary winged horse running 400 km a day, meaning a lightning speed). As a result, the DPRK completed the socialist industrialization within a short period of 14 years.

It can be said that it is the plan and intention of Kim Jong Il to make a new turning point in the current drive to build a thriving nation by inheriting this tradition. When the workers in Kangson, the native place of Chollima, rush ahead in high spirits their colleagues throughout the country will follow suit, he said, calling on the Chollima Steel Complex to rekindle the torch of a new revolutionary upsurge.

The torch of a great upsurge rekindled in Kangson is now spreading like wildfire. All the people are turning out in the great struggle of building a thriving nation to become honourable participants and persons of great services, working ceaseless innovations and feats in all fields. At present, the overall economy of the DPRK is developing at a remarkable speed.

The Korean people in such high spirits will surely open, as they have decided, the gate to a great, prosperous and powerful nation in 2012 that marks the centenary of birth of President Kim Il Sung, father of socialist Korea.

December 24, 2008, when the torch of a new revolutionary upsurge was rekindled, was recorded in the history of socialist Korea and also enshrined in the minds of the Korean people as another national commemoration day of great significance.

The WPK As The Mother Party

October 10 represents the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea by President Kim Il Sung.

The entire citizens of the DPRK and its foreign friends celebrate this occasion as a historical political event.

People who do not know much about or are badly misinformed about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) might not understand this event well.

In the DPRK, a society constitutes a family, the country's leader is regarded as a father of the entire nation and the WPK has become the “Mother Party". In order to understand this more clearly, some points are mentioned below to the readers.

In an article entitled "Mother Party" published in the magazine Korea Today, Ri Kyong Hui said that "The WPK takes responsibility and care for the people's destiny" (10, Juche 97 [2008], p. 2). The same article adds that "The DPRK government effected the universal free medical care system, when it was at war with the United States - a sure sign of its sense of responsibility for the people's health. The following universal free education system introduced in the late 1950s realized the hope of the people to study to their hearts' content free of charge. In 1974 the taxation system was abolished, and they have lived happily in the houses which the state allocated to them free, and they have no idea of the word of 'tax'" (p. 3).

More light could be shed on how life in the DPRK is organised by reading Kim Jong Il's works. In Socialism Is A Science (1994), he wrote "In our country, everyone regards and supports the leader as they would their own father. They trust and follow the Party, regarding its embrace as that of their own mother. The leader, the Party and the people form one socio-political organism, and share the same destiny. The whole of society overflows with communist morality. For instance, one devotes one's own life without hesitation to save one's revolutionary comrade from danger, and young men and women become life companions of honourably disabled soldiers and take warm care of orphans and old people without support, as they would their own relations. This is a proud result of the benevolent politics of our Party" (p. 31).

There are many other stories that reveal the care exhibited by the WPK. The aforementioned issue of Korea Today included an interesting article by Professor Kang Yong Ho, a researcher at the Kim Chaek University of Technology. This researcher spent the first few years of his life in Japan. Sometime around 1960, he was able to move to the DPRK with his wife and daughter. He wrote that "The day after our arrival home, an official sent for me. At the first glance he looked like a good man. He gave me two sheets of paper. One was a certificate of my appointment as a researcher of the Academy of Sciences, and the other was a certificate of my ownership of a good dwelling house. I looked at the official dubiously, and he said: 'Now you will be able to realize your hope to your heart's content under the embrace of the Workers' Party of Korea. You work as best as you can. And if you have any problem in your life and work, you may call on me at any time'" (p. 9).

In many other countries, millions of people do not feel that there is an organisation such as the WPK that acts as a mother to them. Instead of being made to feel important and part of a community, countless individuals in such countries are often left to fend for themselves. The lack of care and concern shown for millions of human beings is easily seen when one walks through various cities and counts the number of homeless people living in the streets. I still clearly remember how horrible it felt to walk through a part of Madrid littered with people sleeping on carton boxes during the winter season. No genuinely caring government should ever accept to have any of its citizens living without a decent roof over their head!

It is also important to remember that the WPK is doing its utmost to continue improving the standard of living of the people in the DPRK in spite of many sanctions that are intended at sabotaging the socialist society chosen by the Korean people themselves. Single-heartedly united around their leader, Kim Jong Il, and guided by the WPK, the popular masses of the DPRK have resisted every attempt of hostile forces to replace socialism with neoliberalism.

The Songun-based revolutionary cause of the WPK is to defend socialism and bring a happier life to the people.

Hopefully, the points mentioned above would be helpful for the readers to obtain a better understanding of life in the DPRK.

Emblem of Workers' Party of Korea

October 10 this year marks the 65^th birthday of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) founded in 1945.

The WPK, since its founding, has creditably performed its role as the organizer of all victories of the Korean people and the great guide of the cause of socialism, breaking through all sorts of upheavals and trials of history.

The 65-year-long career of the WPK, resplendent with victory and glory, is inconceivable apart from its emblem clearly showing its character.

Its golden emblem bears a hammer, a sickle, and a writing brush which are intertwined in the middle of their handles. The hammer is symbolic of a worker, the sickle a peasant, and the writing brush an intellectual. The intertwinement of the said symbolic at one point shows that the working class, the peasants and the intellectuals are closely united.

The WPK ‘s emblem represents that the Party embraces not only the working class but fine progressive elements of peasants and intellectuals, and that it conducts all its activities to meet the demands and interest of broad sections of the working people. It also symbolizes that the Party is vanguard unit of the working people who are rallied around their leader firmly in organizational and ideological aspects.

What is noticeable in the emblem is the writing brush. Today there are a number of emblems and flags symbolic of the party of the working class around the world, and they all have only a hammer and a sickle on them it is only the WPK that has the writing brush designed along with the hammer and the sickle.

Then, how was the WPK ‘s emblem designed? It is said that its draft design was originally different from the present one. It had a drawing of a worker holding a hammer and a peasant plowing a field. Some people proposed to depict the worker as a smelter holding a tapping bar.

President Kim Il Sung(1912-1994), father of socialist Korea and founder of the WPK, examined the draft design and pointed out that it was a great mistake to exclude an intellectual in the design, only depicting a worker and a peasant. He instructed that the Party emblem should portray a working intellectual together with a worker and a peasant. Only then can the emblem represent that the WPK is a unified party of the masses of working people embracing the progressive elements of workers, peasants and working intellectuals, he said. Then he indicated specific ways of portrayal, even advancing his opinion on depicting a hammer for the worker, a sickle for the peasant and a writing brush for working intellectual in Korean style, although a pen would be possible.

Afterward, he examined a design presented by creators, who drew a hammer, a sickle and a writing brush fan-like by attaching their ends in regular order. He told them that it was recommended to intertwine them in the middle of their handles not only in the light of composition but to represent that the Korean people including the working class, peasants and intellectuals are closely united, and even fixed the point of their crossing. When the creators failed to show distinctive points where the hammer, the sickle and the writing brush were intertwined, he noted that the lines of those handles must be clearly drawn so that everybody could easily see their orders, and gave his finishing touches to the design, personally making sketches on a paper.

As a result, a writing brush together with a hammer and a sickle was depicted on the emblem of the WPK. The WPK not only described in its emblem the fact that it regards intellectuals as its constituent together with workers and peasants, but has let them to share the same destiny forever with the Party.

Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the WPK, once said to officials that the brilliant career of the WPK is associated with devoted services of not only workers and peasants but working intellectuals and that its history splendid with victory and glory is inconceivable apart from them. The other time, he received a letter from intellectuals who wrote their determination to entrust their destiny entirely to the Party and believe and follow it in whatever hardships and trials. He sent them a letter of his reply, hoping they would be eternal companions, faithful assistants and excellent advisers in the Party building and activities.

It is by no means fortuitous that the Korean intellectuals are dedicating their wisdom and zeal to realizing the cause of socialism, holding high the slogan “ there is no border in science, but we have our socialist motherland.”

True to the WPK’s plan to build a thriving nation, they are now bringing about eye-opening achievements in the drive to push back the frontiers of science and technology . Typical are the successful launch of two artificial earth satellites, development and introduction of CNC technology, manufacture of an UHP electric arc furnace and perfection of an iron-and steel-making technology of using no coke. These can be said to be a powerful demonstration of the writing brush uniquely depicted in the WPK’s emblem.

The WPK with a unique emblem will emerge victorious in the future, too.

65th Anniversary of the Founding of the Workers' Party of Korea

The Workers’ Party of Korea was founded on October 10,1945, in less than two months after Korea’s liberation from the Japanese military occupation (1905-1945) on August 15, 1945.

It set the anti-imperialist, anti-feudal democratic revolution as its immediate task and next year enforced such democratic reforms as the land reform, nationalization of major industries and equal rights for both sexes, leading the Korean people to the building of a new society. It developed the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army, which had waged the 15-year-long guerrilla warfare against Japanese imperialism to liberate Korea, into the Korean People’s Army, a regular armed force, and founded the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the first people’s democratic state in the East, on September 9, 1948 Korea, once a backward, colonial semi-feudal society, underwent a radical change in a short period after liberation.

The Korean war (1950-1953) provoked by the United States, however, threw grave roadblocks in the progress of the WPK. The allied forces of the US and its 15 vassal states attempted to nip the young DPRK in its bud. The WPK aroused all the Party members and the people to turn out in the righteous war in defence of national freedom and independence and inflicted an ignominious defeat on the US, which had boasted of its being “the strongest” in the world, for the first time in history, honourably safeguarding the sovereignty and dignity of their country.

After the war the WPK led its people to the post-war rehabilitation and the laying of foundations of socialism. It advanced the basic line of economic construction on giving priority to the growth of heavy industry while simultaneously developing light industry and agriculture and led the work to its implementation. Under its guidance the agricultural cooperation and the socialist transformation of private handicraft and capitalist trade and industry were carried out successfully in Korea in a brief span of time, resulting in the establishment of the socialist system in August 1958. The WPK turned the DPRK into a socialist industrial state in a short period of 14 years by effecting an all-people revolutionary upsurge, which was called the “Chollima Movement”.

Since the 1970s the WPK, based on these achievements, promoted onto a new higher level the three revolutions-ideological, technical and cultural-for the complete victory of socialism. The flames of the three revolutions brought about heydays in all fields of politics, the economy, culture and others. With the abolition of taxation in 1974, the DPRK became the first tax-free country in the world. It has since 1975 enforced in a comprehensive way the universal 11-year free compulsory education, the highest standard in the world. The Sixth Congress of the WPK held in October 1980 put forward the fundamental tasks of socialist economic construction in the 1980s and its ten long-range objectives. If they are attained, the DPRK will be able to join with flying colours the ranks of those countries with advanced economy.

The WPK, however, faced an unexpected situation from the mid-1980s. The whirlwinds of “reform” and “perestroika” swept the ruling parties in the former Soviet Union and other socialist countries, thus resulting in the frustration of socialism. The WPK lost its political allies and the socialist international market. The imperialist forces took advantage of it to direct their intensive anti-socialist offensive against the DPRK. This being the situation, President Kim Il Sung, who founded the WPK and led it for nearly 50 years, passed away in July 1994. To make matters worse, the DPRK was hit by unprecedented natural disasters one after another. They were the worst trials ever known in the history of the WPK.

Braving those hardships, the WPK administered Songun politics on a full scale and aroused the people to the struggle in defence of socialism, rallying them more closely around leader Kim Jong Il. Under its leadership, the Korean people have not only safeguarded socialism in the worst adversity but secured a foothold for the building of a great, prosperous and powerful nation. In August 1998 the DPRK’s artificial earth satellite, Kwangmyongsong No. 1, manufactured completely by its own efforts and technology, was successfully launched into space, striking the whole world with amazement. It was as the same as a solemn sound of gun firing signaling the start of building a socialist thriving nation.

On January 1, 1999, the WPK published a joint editorial in its official organ and other leading newspapers in the country, officially declaring that it would start the drive to build a thriving nation. The term of a great, prosperous and powerful socialist country referred to by the Koreans is a country with strong national power, in which everything prospers and its people live happily with nothing to envy in the world. It was the lifelong wish of President Kim Il Sung, father of socialist Korea. The WPK is vigorously inspiring all its members and other people to the drive to open the gate to a thriving nation at any cost in 2012, making the centenary of birth of the President. The DPRK is concentrating its efforts on economic construction, now that it has already secured the position of a powerful nation in the aspects of politico-idelogical strength and military might. Revitalization of the national industry, growth of agricultural production, expansion of land development and developing science and technology-all these are giving strong impetus to the development of the independent national economy.

Under the leadership of the WPK, the DPRK is bringing about eye-opening achievements in the efforts to build an economic power. Last year another artificial earth satellite Kwangmyongsong No.2 was rocketed into orbit. The Juche-based steel-making system of using no cokes and iron scraps was perfected and the CNC technology widely introduced to bring about unheard-of increase in production. Vinalon cotton and fertilizer began to be mass-produced this year.

Sixty-five-year-long career of the WPK is, indeed, the history of victory and glory that it has led the Korean people to make epochal changes.

Congratulations on the 65^th birthday of the Workers’ Party of Korea which organizes and guides all the victories of the Korean people!

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Study Group's Congratulatory Message

The Juche Philosophy and Songun Policy Study Group (Malta) extends cordially the warmest greetings of congratulations to H.E. Kim Jong Il, the great leader of the Korean people on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of his start of Songun-based leadership.

Today, the DPR Korea is displaying its might as a politically and militarily powerful state under the Songun-based leadership of H.E. Kim Jong Il. Songun-based politics are the most just politics having enabled the army and people of the DPRK to be single-heartedly united behind their leader.

Faced with ceaseless maneuvers of aggression from the US imperialists, the DPRK has held fast to the banner of socialism despite any severe wind and this was only possible thanks to the single-hearted unity of the army and people of the DPRK behind H.E. Kim Jong Il.

The DPRK has fortified its defensive capabilities all over the country coping with the hostile forces’ ceaseless maneuvers against the DPRK and has reliably safeguarded socialism by dint of a single-hearted unity and most powerful military capabilities with nuclear deterrent.

The US should ,at once, stop all the military drills of aggression including the largest-ever Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises staging with the South Korean conservative group from August 16.

We are fully convinced that the army and people of the DPRK under the wise Songun-based leadership of H.E. Kim Jong Il will surely defeat the hostile forces’ maneuvers of aggression that should be stopped at once. We believe that the army and the people of the DPRK will achieve the cause of building a great , powerful and prosperous nation.

50th Anniversary of Songun-based Leadership

The following statement was issued by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Malta on the occasion of Comrade Kim Jong Il's start of the Songun-based leadership:

On behalf of the Communist Party of Malta, I warmly congratulate the 50^th anniversary of Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission H.E. Kim Jong Il’s start of Songun-based leadership.

H.E. Kim Jong Il is the great brilliant commander who has performed immortal feats in strengthening and developing the DPRK with his Songun-based leadership.

The Songun policy of the WPK is a source of the invincible might which has resulted in that the army and people in the DPRK have decisively defeated the US imperialists’ maneuvers to stifle the DPRK and have safeguarded socialism to the end.

The present realities , under which the East European socialist countries collapsed and imperialists’ ceaseless maneuvers to stifle the DPRK have intensified, demonstrate expressly the justness and vitality of the Songun policy.

The US and the South Korean authorities should strain their ears to the warning of the DPRK to counter physically and stop at once all nuclear war exercises of aggression including the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises being staged in the East and West waters of Korea from August 16 ,2010 and to take a practical approach.

We are sure that there will always be victory and glory before the army and people of the DPRK under the Songun-based leadership of H.E. Kim Jong Il.

Tourism in the DPRK

Of late, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is under the limelight of sightseeing enthusiasts around the world.

Abundant tourist resources

The DPRK, located in the central part to the east of Asia and called from long ago the “land of morning calm” and “a country of scenic beauties”, is rich in natural resources for tourism.

In the northern tip of Korea stands Mt. Paektu, which is 2,750 m high and capped with snow all the year round, boasting of its grandeur spectacle. On its top is Lake Chon, a famous crater lake which is 384 m deep and 9.16㎢ in area and has huge volume of water of 1 955 million㎥. It is known as the world’s largest lake found in mountains. Mysterious and supernatural phenomena can be found in Mt. Paektu from time to time. Sometimes, sudden waterspouts take place on the placid Lake Chon. Sometimes, heavy rains and snowfalls pour down the Lake but, in an instant, the sky gets clear, a rainbow hanging there.

The Mt. Paektu area is registered as an international biosphere reserve for fantastic rocks of myriad shapes and wide varieties of fauna and flora in primeval forests. While Mt. Paektu is noted for its strong and majestic “masculinity,” Mts. Kumgan and Chilbo on the east coast of Korea show off their beautiful and elegant “femininity.”

Mt. Kumgan presents waterfalls with cascading crystal-clear water, 12,000 peaks of fantastic shapes and Upper Phal (eight) Pools with a legend that fairies charmed by its picturesque scenery descended from Heaven to take a bath and have a pleasant time there.

Mt.Chilbo, too, is no less than Mt Kumgan as it has many scenic spots including natural lakes, hot springs, myriad-shaped peaks, seascapes and the like.

Mts. Myohyang and Kuwol in the western area of Korea are also tourist destinations. All scenic places and spots in the DPRK preserve their natural beauty and are free from any environmental pollution, thus thrusting themselves into the limelight of tourists.

Korea with a 5,000-year-long history and cultural traditions has lots of ancient historic remains and relics. Pyongyang has many ruins of castles, royal mausoleums, gatehouses and other relics as it had been the capital of Ancient Korea, the first state of the Korean nation established 5,000 years ago and Koguryo (277 BC-AD 668), “a l 000-year powerful state in the East.”

On the outskirts of Pyongyang are the Mausoleum of King Tangun, father of the Korean nation over 5,000 years ago and the Mausoleum of King Tongmyong, founder of Koguryo. Many tomb murals in the period of Koguryo, including the Three Tombs in Kangso in the vicinity of Pyongyang which have been put on the UNESCO World Heritage list, remain fadeless even after thousands of years, arousing the curiosity of tourists.

The Complete Collection of Buddhist Scriptures, the world’s oldest one, and 80,000 wooden blocks used in printing them are kept in the History Museum in Mt Myohyang. Kaesong which was the capital city of Koguryo (918-1392), the first unified state of the Korean nation has many historic remains.

Manwoltae, site of the royal palace, Koryo Songgyungwan ,one of the oldest universities in the world, Mausoleum of King Wang Kon, founder of Koryo, Mausoleum of King Kongmin, resembling a museum of stone sculptures, Ryongthong Temple, once reputed as a mecca of Buddhism, and residential quarters preserving shapes of dwelling houses of Koreans in the Middle Ages.

There are many monumental structures showing the development of modern Korea. In Nampho area, not far from Pyongyang is the West Sea Barrage, outmeasuring four times the dam of the world-famous Rance Power Plant in France. In Pyongyang there are many spectacular and magnificent structures rare to be seen in the world, including the Tower of the Juche Idea (170 m), the highest stone tower in the world, the Arch of Triumph, the Party Founding Memorial Tower and the Chollima Statue.

The May Day Stadium built on an islet in the centre of the Taedong River is attracting tourists for its shape resembling a large flower or a parachute. Such unique Korean-style buildings as the Grand People’s Study House, the People’s Palace of Culture, the Pyongyang Grand Theatre and Okryu Restaurant are drawing the attention of tourists.

Perfect conditions for tourism

Tourism is actively encouraged in the DPRK.

Of late, the Kaeson Youth Park has been splendidly reconstructed in Pyongyang, known as “a city in a park” and “a city free from pollution.” At present, the construction of the Pyongyang Folklore Park which will present both the past and the present of the Korean nation is under way.

The Okryu Restaurant on the bank of the Taedong River serves not only famous Korean dishes including Pyongyang cold noodles but other famous dishes prepared from sturgeon and terrapin . Restaurants serving Italian and other foreign foods are enjoying growing popularity in several parts of Pyongyang. One can taste Pyongyangju, a famous liquor of Korea with suave and unique flavour.

Korean leader Kim Jong Il pays deep attention to the development of tourism. Going round the updated pleasure grounds in Mt Myohyang, the Kaeson Youth Park at the foot of scenic Moran Hill, Majon Hotel and Hyangsan Hotel and other places last year and this year, he took measures to facelift the scenic spots of the country more beautifully and provide best conveniences to tourists.

The long-standing unstable situation prevailing in the region, an issue of apprehension for many tourists, has also been removed. The DPRK has provided itself with a strong and reliable war deterrent, thus fully securing peace and stability in this region.

The DPRK, which has been regarded by the world community as a country in the East veiled in mystery, always opens its door to everyone for free sightseeing.

Image: Pagyon Falls

Kim Jong Il: 50th Anniversary of Songun–based Leadership

The term “Songun-based leadership” is a word quite new to the world political history.

The Songun-based leadership of Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, can be said to be a basic factor which enables such a small country to defend its sovereignty and dignity and emerge victorious, facing down the US styling itself “ a sole superpower” in the world.

His Songun-based leadership started on August 25,1960, 50 years ago, when he visited the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su 105 Guards Tank Division of the Korean People’s Army.

Attention should be paid to the fact that he gave his guidance first to the military affairs before starting his official activities( he began to work at the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea on June 19, 1964). It literally means his Songun-based leadership.

The Songun-based leadership can be said to be a traditional mode of leadership in socialist Korea. President Kim Il Sung (1912-1994), father of socialist Korea, first founded a guerrilla army and waged the anti-Japanese war to liberate Korea and then achieved the cause of founding the Party and the state.

Kim Jong Il has defended the sovereignty and dignity of the country and reliably secured the peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the region in Northeast Asia by dint of Songun-based leadership.

Always paying a primary attention to enhancing the politico-ideological might of the People’s Army, he ensured that political and ideological education has been intensified among service personnel so that they can fulfil their mission as the defenders of the socialist country. He has made ceaseless inspections of army units in order to boost the military and technical might of the People’s Army in every way. He advanced the line of economic construction of developing the defence on a preferential basis in order for People’s Army to be fully equipped with modern and powerful offensive and defensive means.

He also made sure that a sound habit of attaching importance to the military affairs has been fully established in the whole society and that arming all the people and fortifying the whole land have been realized more thoroughly.

Thanks to his Songun-based leadership, the DPRK has been turned into a more impregnable fortress. Through his Songun-based leadership Kim Jong Il has further cemented the single-minded unity of the Korean society and brought about an eye-opening reality that this country is making a leap forward in order to build a thriving nation.

In the closing years of the last century the Korean people suffered the severest ordeals and difficulties due to the extreme blockade and sanctions on the part of the US-led imperialist allied forces who took advantage of the collapse of socialism in East European countries and the demise of President Kim Il Sung and the natural calamities that hit the DPRK for several consecutive years.

At such a time Kim Jong Il, holding higher the banner of Songun, led the KPA soldiers to make a breakthrough in socialist construction. The service personnel in charge of the construction of the Anbyon Youth Power Station gave full play to the “revolutionary soldier spirit” which is characterized by the spirit of defending their Supreme Commander at the cost of their lives and carrying out his orders and instructions unconditionally and the heroic self-sacrificing spirit of devoting their lives for the country, the people and their comrades, giving a great encouragement to the people. Emulating the “revolutionary soldier spirit”, the people have built medium- and small-sized power stations by their own efforts in different parts of the country and began to revitalise the operation of industrial establishments that had been out of business. The service personnel and the people realigned the land of the whole country into large-sized standard fields by pooling their efforts. The former inspired the latter to vigorously turn out in the drive to push back the frontiers of science and technology by building a large number of model factories provided with state-of-the-art technology. The drive for attaining the cutting-edge technology has swept the whole country, with the result that, last year alone, many industrial establishments have put their production lines on a CNC basis and a new steel-making system of using no scrap iron and coking coal has been established. At the outset of this year, vinalon began to be mass-produced, thus providing the DPRK with a more solid foundation to fling open the gate to a great, prosperous and powerful nation in 2012 that marks the centenary of birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung.

The army and the people of the DPRK have rallied more solidly around their leader thanks to Kim Jong Il’s Songun-based leadership.

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Kim Jong Il Inspects Construction Site of Power Station

Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il provided field guidance to the construction site of the Kumyagang Army-People Power Station nearing completion. He was accompanied by Kwak Pom Gi, chief secretary of the South Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, Jang Song Thaek, vice-chairman of the NDC of the DPRK and department director of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the C.C., the WPK, and Hong Sok Hyong and Thae Jong Su, department directors of the C.C., the WPK, and Hyon Chol Hae and Ri Myong Su, department directors of the NDC.

The appearance of a vast man-made lake as a result of the building of a gigantic dam in the upper reaches of the River Kumya made it possible not only to produce a large volume of electricity but to sufficiently water a large area of farmland and protect the Kumya Plain from flood damage.

After being briefed on the construction of the power station before a huge map showing its panoramic view, he went round various places of the power station nearing completion to learn in detail about the progress made in the project.

The soldiers and civilian builders have successfully completed the construction of a large-scale power station, a huge nature-transforming project, on their own by working hard under difficult conditions, he said, adding that this astonishing miracle amounts to a striking demonstration of the might of the unbreakable unity between the army and people in the DPRK who have formed a harmonious whole with the Party and the leader and the tremendous potential of the independent national economy and one more great victory won by the Korean people in the struggle to courageously frustrate the imperialists' moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK and glorify Korean-style socialism centered on the popular masses.

Looking at paintings and works done by the soldier-builders and members of a shock brigade, he heard a lot of stories about the beautiful traits displayed among them in the course of construction.

Noting that a lot of monumental structures are now under construction in different parts of the country to go down long in history along with the era of Songun thanks to the devoted struggle of soldiers and people, he stressed that this eye-opening change represents the great dynamism of the country dashing ahead like the wind towards the peak of a great prosperous and powerful nation.

He set forth tasks to be fulfilled to wind up the construction of the power station earlier than scheduled, pointing out that the power station is of great importance in realizing the nation's electrification.

In order to finish as quickly as possible the construction of the power station progressing at the final phase it is necessary for such relevant units as the Taean Heavy Machine Complex to preferentially supply in good time custom-built equipment needed for the construction, he said.

It is quite possible to complete the remaining project as scheduled to honor the promise made to the Party if the builders push forward the construction in the "Huichon Speed," a new Chollima speed, he said, underscoring the need to continue displaying the revolutionary soldier spirit, the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance as required by the era of a great revolutionary surge.

He had a photo session with the builders of the power station.