President Kim Yong Nam Hosts Banquet in
Honor of President Kim Dae Jung
PYONGYANG, June 13 (KCNA)
Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, gave a banquet at the People’s Palace of Culture on June 13 in honor of President Kim Dae Jung and his entourage.
Present on invitation were President Kim Dae Jung and member of the south side’s delegation including Unification Minister Pak Jae Gyu, Minister of Finance and Economy Ri Hon Jae, Minister of Culture and Tourism Pak Ji Won and special aide to the President Rim Tong Won, and journalists.
Present there were Vice-President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, Chairman of the SPA Choe Thae Bok, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea Kim Yong Sun, Secretary of the Presidium of the SPA of the DPRK Kim Yun Hyok, Chairman of the C.C., the Korean Social Democratic Party Kim Yong Dae, leading officials of science, education, culture and arts, public health and the press.
Kim Yong Nam in his speech said that he was pleased with the visit of President Kim Dae Jung and his entourage to Pyongyang.
This meeting overflowing with compatriotic feelings is a significant one arranged by our independent choice and patriotic resolution, he noted.
We have lost too much time in the efforts to achieve the reunification of the country, he said, adding that the history of nation’s distress in the 20th century which witnessed national ruin and then division teaches us that it was attributable to the consequences of the interference of outside forces and deep-rooted flunkeyism towards them.
We, he said, should usher in the 21st century of reunification and prosperity with our own efforts.
Speaking at the banquet next, Kim Dae Jung said accorded the cordial hospitality of the north, he was deeply moved by compatriotic love. It is fortunate, indeed, for me to meet with Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission Kim Jong Il to discuss the future of the fellow countrymen, he added.
Pointing out that our future should be carved out by ourselves, he sincerely hoped that the current visit would help switch relations of distrust and confrontation that have lasted for more than half a century to those of reconciliation and cooperation.
There is nothing out of our reach if the nation pools its strength, he said, calling on the nation to work together so that the era of division may be recalled as a thing of the past.
History will obviously bring honor to our nation that has chosen reconciliation and cooperation, he noted.
He prayed that today will be a day for the nation to make a new start toward reconciliation and cooperation.
The banquet proceeded in a warm atmosphere overflowing with compatriotic feelings.
An art performance was given there by Pyongyang artistes.
Copyright © 2000 The People's Korea. All rights reserved.