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*North Korean Studies*The Korea Times reported that Russia wants to see Korea emerge as a powerful state in this region through the process of unification, a Russian parliamentary leader said Tuesday. "Some neighboring countries are worried over the possibility that the Korean unification could create a powerful state on the peninsula both politically and economically," said Dmitri Rogozin, chairman of the State Duma's foreign affairs committee during a press conference at the Central Government Complex. "However, Russia doesn't have any suspicion about this. The emergence of a powerful unified Korea will serve Russia's national interests," he added. Rogozin, who arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a four-day visit, said that the unification issue should be resolved directly between the ROK and the DPRK. With regard to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Seoul, Rogozin said that he is scheduled to visit here early next spring. (Sohn Key-young, "RUSSIA EXPECTS EMERGENCE OF POWERFUL, UNIFIED KOREA," Seoul, 11/29/00)
Pyongyang, November 30 (KCNA) -- Russian ambassador to the DPRK Valery Denisov arranged a photo exhibition and a film show and a reception at his embassy here yesterday in connection with the visit of Russian President V.V. Putin to the DPRK last July. Invited there were vice-president of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, department director of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea Kim Yang Gon, Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun, acting chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae Chol and officials concerned.
After looking round photos showing the visit of President Putin to the DPRK and the friendly relations between the two countries, its participants watched the documentary film "the Great Leader Comrade Kim Jong Il Meets With Russian President Putin". Valery Denisov said at the reception that the cordial meetings and talks held between the heads of the two countries advanced specific ways of deepening and developing cooperation between Russia and the DPRK in political, economic and cultural and other fields. The publication of the Russia-DPRK joint declaration, an important document, lays down the basic principle for the development of the bilateral relations in the 21st century and marks a great event that provided a new stage in the development of those relations, he stressed.
Yang Hyong Sop said in his speech that the visit of Russian President Putin to the DPRK at the invitation of Kim Jong Il was a historic event which made it possible to expand and develop the long-standing DPRK-Russia friendship in all fields in keeping with the new circumstances at the turn of the century. Noting that the Russian government and people are promoting political stability and unity and achieving economic progress, overcoming ordeals and difficulties under the leadership of Putin, he wholeheartedly wished them greater success in their future work to build a powerful country.
Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- Irina Pirogova, political commentator of the Russian paper patriot wrote an article titled "What is impossible is not Korean vocabulary." Explaining the famous quotation of General Secretary Kim Jong Il that "what is impossible is not the Korean vocabulary," she writes: This quotation means that Koreans have strong faith and determination to carry out whatever difficult tasks, if they have a will. The Korean people drove the Japanese imperialist aggressors out of Korea to the last man, thus putting an end to their scores of year-long occupation of it, defeated the U.S. aggressors in the Fatherland Liberation War and achieved shining successes by dynamically pushing forward socialist construction despite severe trials caused by rigid U.S. economic sanctions and unprecedented natural disasters. Credit for all this goes to the great leaders eternal President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il has not only boundlessly loved his people but aroused ardent revolutionary zeal among them and enabled them to courageously overcome difficulties in the way of their advance and trained them as fighters ready to dedicate even their lives to the country, if necessary, and as stars brightly lit by the sun, the author noted, and continued: The Korean army and people boundlessly trust and worship their leader and are fully ready to devotedly defend him. The unbreakable relations between the leader and people are based on the principle of the Juche idea. The army and people form a harmonious whole in Korea. It is an honor and pride for every Korean citizen to serve in the army. Therefore, all the servicemen are fully determined to devote their lives to the country. Every citizen of the DPRK works hard to become a hero at a defence post or in a work-site. All miracles wrought by the Korean people in the building of a powerful socialist nation and historic events in the DPRK are the shining fruition of Kim Jong Il's army-first politics.
Pyongyang, November 14 (KCNA) -- An agreement on cooperation in the fields of standard, measuring and quality between the Measuring and Quality Supervisory Bureau of the DPRK and the State Committee for Standardization and Measuring of Russia was signed in Moscow on November 8. Present at the signing ceremony were members of the "bureau delegation of the DPRK headed by director Kim Hyong Chol and Gennadi Voronin, chairman of the committee of Russia, and others.
The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that visiting Russian Railway Ministry official Alexander Tzerinko revealed in Pyongyang on November 2 that Russia and the DPRK agreed to link the Siberia Railway to the Kyongui Railway, now under construction by the DPRK and the ROK, in the future. According to the agreement, the railway would run from Vladiostok, one end of the Siberia Railway, through Wonsan to Pyongyang, which would be located roughly in the middle of the Kyongui Railway. The Russian official said that the date of the completion of the construction is not yet clear, but that the ROK government also agreed to support the project. The official added that Russian experts will soon begin investigating the site of the construction of the Kyongui Railway. (Toshikazu Seguchi, "RUSSIA AND DPRK AGREE TO LINK SIBERIA RAILWAY TO KYONGUI RAILWAY," Moscow, 11/04/2000)
Pyongyang, November 10 (KCNA) -- Officials of the Russian embassy here went to the Korea-Russia friendship Kochang co-op farm yesterday to help it in vegetable harvesting. Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK Do Thi Hoa and embassy officials visited the Korea-Vietnam friendship Jamjin co-op farm on Nov. 1 to help it in rice thrashing. During break the guests conversed and sang songs together with farmers, deepening friendship. They handed their sincere aid materials and souvenirs to the farms.
By RUSSELL WORKING Special to The Japan Times
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- In the Davydova neighborhood in the northern part of town, one apartment block after another has been under construction for years. Thus, there are always North Korean laborers around. They accept lower wages than Russians, work on weekends and, reportedly, hand over their wages to their government. Their shabby outfits are all similar -- not the Mao tunics of their Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, but striped shirts and plaid pants, which they buy in the Vietnamese market. Sometimes their shoes are falling apart. The North Koreans always travel in twos and threes when they stroll in the city. Like young Arabs, the men hold hands...
Nezavisimaya Gazeta reported that a protocol on exchange of certificates of ratification for the RF-DPRK Treaty on friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation was signed Monday in Moscow. RF Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Losyukov commented that the Treaty coming into effect from the moment of signing of the protocol would serve "to widen and deepen the relations between the two countries in various areas," adding that the RF "firmly supports the cause of peace and independent unification of Korea and non-interference in its internal affairs." ("R.F. AND D.P.R.K. RATIFIED THE FRIENDSHIP TREATY," Moscow, 1, 10/31/00)
Nezavisimaya Gazeta's Dmitry Kosyrev commented that the most difficult stage of US State Secretary Madeleine Albright's Korean visit began on October 25, as she was to discuss the results of her trip to DPRK with ROK officials. "Seoul constantly demands for the efforts to be coordinated, because all neighbors of DPRK are afraid that for the sake of pre-election or some other considerations ... Washington will achieve a 'separate' agreement with Pyongyang, as a result of which Asian countries that are more than anybody interested in a detente in the region will get nothing. What Mrs. Albright was doing in DPRK during her visit there looked rather more like a pre-election performance serving to disguise in the remaining few days the US diplomatic failure in the Middle East."
The article said that "the quite and dirty work" in the Middle East is difficult to sell to the TV, while Albright's visit to DPRK is to establish the notion that "Clinton is a man under whom the historically last Communist state started disappearing from the face of the Earth." It added that the results of the visit are being presented as "a sensation," but in fact there is nothing new about them, as the plans for a US presidential visit to DPRK and for an improvement of the Armistice Agreement and the news about the DPRK's promise to cancel its ballistic missile tests were already made public on October 12 after DPRK Vice Marshal Jo Myong-rok's visit to the US. Albright did not even reveal the exact date of Clinton's visit. At the same time, the beginning of expert-level talks on using US carriers to launch DPRK satellites in exchange for the DPRK canceling its missile program means progress in the process initiated by DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's statement to RF President Vladimir Putin this summer. ("A PRE-ELECTION VISIT TO PYONGYANG," Moscow, 6, 10/26/00)
Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- Russian ambassador to the DPRK Valery Denisov gave a reception at the Russian embassy here Friday evening on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. He said in his speech that friendship and many-sided cooperation between two neighbors Russia and Korea began on Oct. 12, 1948.
The tradition of bilateral relations which experienced all sorts of trials is a guarantee for further developing the relations between the two countries on the principle of respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in other's internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and international law, he noted, and went on: President of the Russian federation V. V. Putin recently visited the DPRK at the invitation of chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il. The meeting and talks that took place in Pyongyang in this course marked a landmark event in the history of Russia-Korea friendly relations. Both sides are now working hard to implement the agreements reached at the Russia-DPRK summit and the joint declaration signed by the heads of the two countries.
Russians here are witnessing the Korean people's devoted labour and achievements made by the DPRK government in the work to develop friendly and cooperative relations with all the countries of the world. The Russian people wish the Korean people success in their efforts to build a powerful nation. Russia reiterates its support to the north-south joint declaration and welcomes its implementation. DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun in his speech said the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 52 years ago was a historical occasion which paved a broad way for the development of the good neighborly relations between Korea and Russia.
He went on: The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are expanding and developing day by day after the publication of the DPRK-Russia joint declaration directly signed by chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il and Russian President Putin, who are supreme heads of the two countries, at the historic meeting and talks in last July. We are very pleased to see Korea-Russia relations steadily developing on good terms and believe that the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger and develop in the new century.
Today the Russian people under the leadership of President Putin are making energetic endeavors to achieve social and economic stability and build powerful Russia and multipolar world, opposed to dominationism and highhanded practices in the international arena. The Korean people sincerely hope that the friendly Russian people will register fresh and greater .
Svetlana Babayeva of Izvestia reported that the RF governmental commission on RF-DPRK economic cooperation returned back to Moscow after a week spent in the DPRK, where they signed a bilateral cooperation protocol. For the first time, the DPRK presented a list of goods it could export to the RF in exchange for things it itself needs. The DPRK wants the RF to participate in the reconstruction of a machine-tool making plant and 3 thermal power plants.
Also, the DPRK asked the RF to allocate to it areas for wood-cutting in Primoriye, Buryatia and Irkutsk of the RF Far East. Also the parties agreed to precisely calculate the amount of DPRK debt owed to the RF. Yet, some RF delegation participants claim that the difficulty is that the DPRK still wishes to build relations on "the Soviet economic basis," despite the fact that a market economy already exists in the RF. The RF does not wish to work free-of-charge, while the DPRK cannot pay for everything it needs. Barter is difficult, because the interests of RF enterprises are not clear. Some credit schemes with ROK participation are under consideration. In Moscow, many people think it has been the RF that brought the DPRK out of isolation recently. ("FRIENDSHIP WITHOUT MONEY," Moscow, 4, 10/25/00)
Pyongyang, October 20 (KCNA) -- The 3rd meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology Between the DPRK and the Russian Federation was held here from Oct. 17 to 20. A protocol of the meeting was signed at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today with due ceremony. Present there were Minister of Foreign Trade Kang Jong Mo and officials concerned, the Russian government delegation headed by V. M. Filippov, Minister of Education who is chairman of the Russian side to the Russia-DPRK Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Committee, and Russian ambassador to the DPRK Valery Denisov. The protocol was inked by Kang Jong Mo and V. M. Filippov.
Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings on Oct. 14 to President of Azerbaijan Geidar Aliyev on the occasion of its national day. He in the message warmly congratulated the president, government and people of Azerbaijan on their national day. Expressing the belief that the friendly relations between the two countries would continue to develop on good terms, he wished the Azerbaijan President and people success in their efforts to consolidate peace and stability of the country.
China Daily reported that a Russian Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il would visit Moscow at the beginning of next year. Russia's RIA News Agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov as saying, "It is probably realistic to say that this visit will take place in the first half of 2001." He said the exact date was under discussion. ITAR-TASS News Agency quoted what it called informed sources as saying that Kim's visit to Moscow would take place before a planned trip by Kim to the ROK. ("KIM JONG-IL GOING TO RUSSIA NEXT YEAR," Moscow, 10/14/00, P8)
Pyongyang, October 13 (KCNA) -- Oleg Dabydov, Russian consul-general in Chongjin, gave a reception at the consulate-general on Thursday to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. Invited to the reception were Kim Song Gwon, vice-chairman of the North Hamgyong Provincial People's Committee, and officials concerned. Staff members of the consulate-general were present. Speeches were made there.
Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) -- Papers here today commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Russia. Rodong Sinmun in a signed article notes that the friendship between the two countries has made progress, surmounting trials and ordeals on the principles of independence, mutual respect, non-interference in other's internal affairs and equality. The article continues: Today the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have entered a new phase of development. Particularly, the Korea visit of V. V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at the invitation of the great leader Kim Jong Il was a noteworthy event in the history of DPRK-Russia friendship.
The leaders of the two countries forged intimate relations and deepened trust through their Pyongyang meeting, during which the historic DPRK-Russia joint declaration was made public. The DPRK-Russia relations are opening an epoch-making phase in political, economic, cultural and other fields in conformity with the spirit of the joint declaration. The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are developing on good terms on the basis of the declaration. In the international arena, too, the two countries are closely cooperating with each other for common interest and keeping in step with each other in order to solve serious and complicated international issues on the principle of impartiality and international justice.
Referring to recent new positive changes by the policies and activities of President Putin in Russia, the article says that the Korean people sincerely hope everything will go well in Russia. Minju Joson expresses the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Russia will be steadily strengthened and developed by the concerted efforts of the two peoples.
Pyongyang, October 9 (KCNA) -- The Tajik Association for the Study of the Juche Idea Named After General Kim Jong Il was renamed national committee on the occasion of the third anniversary of the great leader Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Worker's Party of Korea and the 55th anniversary of the WPK. The renaming is intended to expand Juche idea study organizations in this country and put the work of studying and disseminating the Juche idea on an organizational basis.
A meeting was held in Dushanbe on September 30 to rename the association, at which the chief of the youth commission of the Tajik government was selected chairman of the Tajik National Committee for the Study of the Juche Idea Named After General Kim Jong Il. At the meeting, the Kurgan-Tyube city, Khatullon region of Tajikistan, Group for the Study of the Juche Idea Named After General Kim Jong Il was formed and the Tajik Group for the Study of the Juche Idea Named After General Kim Jong Il was renamed the Dushanbe city, Tajikistan, Group for the Study of the Juche Idea Named After General Kim Jong Il.
Agence France Presse reported that ROK Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong said in an interview with Russian daily Izvestia on Monday that Russia can help in Korean reunification but ending the division of the divided peninsular could take decades. Lee is scheduled in Russia later Monday for a four-day working visit. He also said the ROK wanted to develop humanitarian, economic and trade ties with the DPRK. Lee added, "Russia can help us with this." However, he said, it was "difficult to make forecasts" on when the two states would be united. ("RUSSIA CAN AID REUNIFICATION: SOUTH KOREAN PM AHEAD OF MOSCOW VISIT," Moscow, 10/9/00)
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- A meeting was held at the building of the Council of the Union of Communist Parties-the Communist Party of the Soviet Union on October 4 in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Worker's Party of Korea. Its chairman Oleg Shenin in his report said that acting as the headquarters of the revolution since its foundation, the WPK under the wise guidance of the President Kim Il Sung called upon the Korean people to build new Korea, victoriously led the Fatherland Liberation War fought against the U.S. and their stooges in the 1950s and built a socialist paradise in the North Korea.
Today the heroic Korean people are firmly defending and advancing socialism to victory overcoming all sorts of difficulties and hardships under the wise guidance of the great leader Kim Jong Il. Kim Jong Il is an outstanding great man of our times endowed with ideas, leadership art and all other best traits and qualifications to be possessed of by a leader. Kim Jong Il is leading enormous social, political and economic affairs of the country with his extraordinary leadership ability and experienced and tested leadership.
Moscow, October 5 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a gift to the veteran newspaper office of Russia. The gift was handed to its editor-in-chief A. Danilov by the military attaché of the DPRK embassy in Moscow on Oct. 2. At a meeting held to convey the gift, the editor-in-chief said that he never expected that brilliant commander Kim Jong Il who is revered by the whole world would send the excellent gift to the newspaper office. Kim Jong Il is, indeed, a great and beloved father not only of the Korean people and veterans but all the progressives and veterans the world over, he stressed. Kim Jong Il's unique army-first leadership gives fresh strength and courage to the veterans of Russia, he said, stressing that his leadership is, indeed, an example all the leaders of the world should follow. A letter to him was adopted at the meeting.
Pyongyang, September 29 (KCNA) -- Sazhi Umalatova, chairwoman of the Party for Peace and Unity of Russia, published an article titled "the Red Flag Follows the Great Man". She said in the article that the dignity of the red flag is displayed and its future is guaranteed under the leadership of the great Marshal Kim Jong Il, who loves the red flag before anything else. Seeing the red flag invariably fluttering in Korea, she newly kept in her mind the truth that the red flag follows the great man, the article said, and went on: In the battle of defending the red flag, a battle in which it is more difficult to defend it than to raise, the DPRK is always emerging victorious thanks to Kim Jong Il with noble revolutionary obligation and iron will to invariably uphold the red flag associated with President Kim Il Sung's whole life.
The red flag of Korea represents the iron faith and will of Kim Jong Il. With this faith and will, a new history of the eternal red flag is proudly being made in Korea. Defending the red flag means confrontation in ideological and military fields. This is his steadfast position toward the issue of defending the red flag, and the red flag of Korea is an invincible and ever-victorious banner which is defended with the might of arms of revolution. This red flag defended by him is called Kim Jong Il's red flag because he always works together with it. As long as Kim Jong Il's red flag remains, the 21st century will be a "century free from imperialism."
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The Russian newspaper Patriot no. 33 carried what Oleg Shenin, chairman of the council of the Union of Communist Parties--the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, said as regards President Putin's Korea visit at a press conference. He affirmatively appreciated Putin's Korea visit, which he said shows that Russia is interested in socialist Korea firmly pursuing independent policies with self-reliance under the guidance of its leader Kim Jong Il and the Worker's Party of Korea.
Putin's visit clearly proves that the authority of the DPRK which is making great achievements by applying socialist principles, confidently advancing along the road of socialism, is rising day by day. In other words, it is the exploit of the people and party of Korea and its leader Kim Jong Il, he said, and went on: Our party pays deep concern to the measures taken by the DPRK for peaceful reunification of the country. Experience of Korea will be beneficial to our struggle to revive the soviet union.
Nezavisimaia gazeta reported that earlier in the week ROK President Kim Dae-jung announced the start of reconstruction works at a railway uniting ROK with DPRK. ROK Construction and Transportation Minister told RF journalists that from now on the ROK were to become a peninsula in transportation terms, as it had been kind of an island before. After the construction it is planned to intensify ROK railway communications with RF, PRC and DPRK, with trains going from Pusan to "Transsib" to Europe, thus lowering the costs. The author noted that the DPRK-ROK rapprochement causes a gradual push out of US forces from the peninsula, with ROK therefore striving to increase its own defense capacity. In particular ROK would like to bargain for its right to increase the range of its missiles from 180 kilometers as stipulated by arrangements of 1979 to 300 kilometres. (Dmitry Kosyrev, "TRAINS WILL RUN FROM SEOUL TO PYONGYANG", Moscow, 6, 09/21/00)
The Izvestia reported that, according to the British "Daily telegraph," the DPRK delivered to Libya some launching devices and several "Rodong-1" missiles this summer. The 1000 kilometer range missiles can not only hit Israel, but Rome and Athens. Experts are concerned that Libyan leader Colonel Muamar Quaddafi may equip the warheads with chemical and nuclear weapons. The deal cost was approximately US$0.5 billion. The missiles were accompanied by nine DPRK engineers and technicians. Similar deliveries were disrupted twice in the past: first by the British customs and then by the Indian customs. According to the Research center on Defense and International Security of Lancaster University, Great Britain, at least 36 countries already possess various ballistic missiles, while 14 are busy developing them. (Vladimir Dunayev, "QUADDAFI THE MISSILE-CARRIER", Moscow, 4, 09/26/00)
The Korea Herald reported that Russian Ambassador Evgeny Afanasiev said on September 19 that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il responded favorably to the proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin that it begin work on reconnecting the Kyongwon Railway, linking Seoul and its eastern port city Wonsan. Afanasiev said that Russia has an interest in building a railway linking Seoul, Wonsan, Vladivostok and Siberia and that the Russian government wants to take part in the railway project. He said ROK President Kim Dae-jung and Putin discussed the issue in New York in early September and evaluated the project favorably. Afanasiev said Russia welcomed improvements in ties between the DPRK and the US and Japan as a way to further enhance inter-Korean relations. ("KIM JONG-IL RESPONDS FAVORABLY TO RECONNECTION OF KYONGWON RAILWAY," Seoul, 09/20/00)
Cпецслужбы обеих Корей работают согласно национальному характеру
АНДРЕЙ СОЛДАТОВ Известия, 21.09.00 (in Russian)
О структуре главной спецслужбы Северной Кореи - Министерстве охраны государства (МОГ) - известно крайне мало. По нашим данным, в состав его центрального аппарата входят 16 отделов (кук) и 4 управления (чхо). Контроль над населением МОГ осуществляет вместе с Министерством общественной безопасности (МОБ), которому подчиняется обычная полиция. Вполне советская система. Однако она никогда не стала бы столь эффективной, если бы не национальное блюдо корейской контрразведки - система круговой поруки "инминбан". Все население страны разделено на так называемые народные группы "инминбан", в которые объединяются по месту жительства от двадцати до пятидесяти семей. Во главе каждой группы стоит чиновник, который несёт ответственность за все, что происходит с членами его подведомственной "народной группы". Фактически это аналог китайской системы доносов "У Ши Бай" (пятерка, десятка, сотня), когда старший пятерки "стучит" на членов своей семьи, соседей...
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Famous works of the great leader Kim Jong Il were presented to Tajikistan. The book-presenting ceremony took place at the library in Ura-tyube, Leninabad region, Tajikistan, on Sept. 7. Present there were Djuma Zakirov, Mayor of Ura-tyube in Leninabad region of Tajikistan, Barno Ashiranov, second secretary of the city committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, and other party officials and personages of the library. After receiving the books, the second secretary of the city party committee said that the great Kim Jong Il is an outstanding thinker and theoretician and a brilliant leader. His party will distribute Kim Jong Il's works to its organizations, setting them as must books to imbue and educate the party members with the socialist idea, he stated.
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- The editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Patriot in his article titled "Faith and will" said that the torchlight of the Juche idea, the torchlight of faith and will, held high by the Korean people, is throwing its rays over Russia, too, and the torchlight is a beacon of turning many people of Russia back to the road of independence and socialism. The article was carried by Patriot no. 36. Socialist Korea evokes respect and astonishment, excitement and admiration among foreign friends as well as the enemies, said the author. Referring to the important events recorded in the historical course of the Korean people, he said that all the successes and miracles have been made not under easy condition but under the most difficult domestic and international situation.
The outstanding leader and father of the people Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il founded the Juche idea and developed it, thus providing the people with an eternally ideological and almighty treasured sword, he said, and went on: Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il instilled into the hearts of all citizens of the country from children to adults the faith that they are the master of everything, that is, the master of their destiny and their country. This is why all the people of this country will devote their energies and wisdom to working so hard and bravely and dedicate their all to the country. The main weapon, the main strength of socialist Korea, is based on the fixed faith, the harmonious whole of the leader, the party, the army and the people. The people and the leader demonstrated its might in the course of triumphant creation, trusting in each other and becoming a harmonious whole, so that the international authority and prestige of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have steadily grown.
Moscow, September 12 (KCNA) -- Vladimir Markov, secretary of the central committee of the Communists Union of Russia, when interviewed by a KCNA correspondent in Moscow on Sept. 7, said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country with a bright future. The DPRK decisively repulsed the U.S. reckless armed invasion and thus humbled the U.S. imperialists who had boasted of being the "strongest" in the world, he said, and went on: It is firmly defending and glorifying socialism despite the imperialists' continued vicious moves to isolate and stifle it and natural disasters. These hard facts convinced me that the victory is based on the Juche idea which was authored by President Kim Il Sung and has been developed and enriched by General Secretary Kim Jong Il. Many countries of the world are now working hard to have good relations with socialist Korea because they are convinced of a bright prospect of Korea. The Korean people will surely build a powerful nation under the wise guidance of Kim Jong Il.
Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Famous works of the great leader Kim Jong Il were presented to Tajikistan. The book-presenting ceremony took place at the library in Ura-tyube, Leninabad region, Tajikistan, on Sept. 7. Present there were Djuma Zakirov, Mayor of Ura-tyube in Leninabad region of Tajikistan, Barno Ashiranov, second secretary of the city committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, and other party officials and personages of the library. After receiving the books, the second secretary of the city party committee said that the great Kim Jong Il is an outstanding thinker and theoretician and a brilliant leader. His party will distribute Kim Jong Il's works to its organizations, setting them as must books to imbue and educate the party members with the socialist idea, he stated.
The Los Angeles Times reported that some missile experts theorize that the DPRK missile program was built with the help of Russian missile scientists. Robert H. Schmucker, a German missile technology specialist, said in a recent paper, "It must be concluded that various Russian companies--not necessarily the Russian government--and North Korean authorities are closely cooperating in the missile programs. From these [Russian] institutions, North Korea received everything necessary to manufacture or assemble missiles....
The future of North Korea's work and success depends completely on the Russian involvement." Timothy McCarthy, senior analyst at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, said that he has been quietly examining for months the possibility that some Russians are continuing to provide key components for the DPRK missiles. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the Russian government has been involved. Still, McCarthy noted, "If the North Korean program isn't viable without Russian components, then you'd have to look at Russia, not North Korea, for the solution to the problem."
So far, US intelligence agencies are said to be sceptical about this theory, but the idea has gained adherents among missile experts in Europe, particularly in Germany. There is, however, a consensus that the DPRK program began in the 1980s with Russian help, and that the DPRK missiles are based upon Russian designs. John Pike of the Federation of American Scientists said, "We've taken a close look at the design of the [Korean missile] and it's clearly a knockoff of the [Russian] SS-4." Pike added, "The paper trail ended eight years ago." Some analysts point to the Russian-style design of the DPRK missiles and to the fact that they were developed more rapidly, and with fewer flight tests, than those of other nations. Joachim Krause, deputy director of a German research institute, said, "Countries like Egypt, South Africa, Brazil, Chile and Egypt all tried to develop these missiles and failed. Only North Korea, this totally run-down country that can't feed its own people, succeeded."
Some experts said there have also been some customs seizures in Europe of missile parts that the DPRK was exporting, parts that appear to be Russian. Robert Schmucker concluded that there are "so many indications [of Russian involvement], and there is no other way.... The North Korean missile is a complete Russian system, with nothing developed in North Korea." (Jim Mann, "N. KOREAN MISSILES HAVE RUSSIAN ROOTS, EXPLOSIVE THEORY SUGGESTS," Washington, 9/6/00)
Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Ministry of Power and Coal Industries of the DPRK led by Minister Sin Thae Rok left here today for Russia. The delegation was seen off at the airport by Hyon Ryo Jin, vice-Minister of Power and Coal Industries, and Alexander Timonin, charge d' affaires ad interim of the embassy of the Russian Federation here.
Pyongyang, September 5 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a message of greetings from President of the Russian Federation V. Putin on Sept. 1 with the approach of the 52nd anniversary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. V. Putin in his message extended heartfelt congratulations to Kim Jong Il on the occasion of the anniversary of the DPRK, its National Day.
He expressed the belief that the good neighborly relations and the constructive bilateral cooperation between the two countries would successfully develop in different fields in the future, too, on the basis of long-standing experience and tradition of friendship and cooperation in accordance with the welfare of the Russian and Korean peoples. I think the development of bilateral ties in depth will contribute to consolidating peace, stability and security on the Korean peninsula and in all other areas of northeast Asia, the message said. It wished Kim Jong Il good health and success and the Korean people peace and prosperity.
Pyongyang, September 3 (KCNA) -- Officials of the Russian Embassy here visited the statues of the great leader President Kim Il Sung in cities of Nampho, Wonsan and Haeju on Saturday to pay respects to him on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the end of World War II. They laid bunches of flowers before the statues and made bows in deep reverence to the president who devoted all his life to the prosperity of the country and happiness of the people, global peace and independence and the development of friendly relations among nations. They also laid wreaths and bouquets before the liberation towers, monuments to the fallen soviet soldiers and their statues in those cities and paid a silent tribute to the memory of them who died in the sacred fight for the Liberation of Korea.
By Dr Andrei Lankov
In 1984-1985, I spent one year in the DPRK as a foreign student at the Kim Il Song university. When returned, I decided to write down some of my impressions of North Korea. The following article is based on those old impressions. The result may be rather chaotic, as such impressions, jolted down "as the spirit moves" are, perhaps, wont to be. However, it is hoped that they still would be of some interest to students of contemporary North Korea. Obviously, during the last 15 years, the North Korean capital has changed, though probably not as much as other cities of Eastern Asia...
Pyongyang, September 3 (KCNA) -- Officials of the Russian Embassy here visited the statues of the great leader Pres ident Kim Il Sung in cities of Nampho, Wonsan and Haeju on Saturday to pay respects to him on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the end of World War II. They laid bunches of flowers before the statues and made bows in deep reverence to the president who devoted all his life to the prosperity of the country and happiness of the people, global peace and independence and the development of friendly relations among nations. They also laid wreaths and bouquets before the liberation towers, monuments to the fallen soviet soldiers and their statues in those cities and paid a silent tribute to the memory of them who died in the sacred fight for the Liberation of Korea.