Korean Writers and Artistes in Japan Meet

Pyongyang, July 15 (KCNA) -- The 20th Congress of the Union of Korean Writers and Artists in Japan took place at the Korean Hall in Tokyo on June 30. Attending it were Pae Jin Gu, vice-chairman and concurrently director general of the General Affairs Department of the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), Kim Song Hun, director of its Department for Publicity and Culture, Kim Jong Su, chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the union, and deputies. Read out at the congress was a congratulatory message from the respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un to the 24th Congress of Chongryon. Introduced there was a congratulatory message from the Ministry of Culture of the DPRK. Chairman Kim Jong Su said in a report that in the period under review the writers and artistes of the union were awarded Kim Jong Il Prize, titles of People's Artist and Merited Artiste and February 16 Art Prize and that a picture, presented by a compatriot artist to a national fine art exhibition in celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea held in the DPRK, was registered as a work of national treasure. He noted that the writers and artistes of the union produced and disseminated a lot of works on the theme of love for the homeland, compatriots and posterity and contributed to the successful holding of the celebrations for the 60th formation anniversary of Chongryon and various literary and art events. The union also made many achievements including the brisk performance activities by the Korean song and dance ensembles and branches across Japan, the reporter said. He called upon the writers and artistes to produce and disseminate more literary and art works on the theme of love for the homeland, compatriots and posterity and the Kumgang-san Opera Troupe and the Korean song and dance ensembles across Japan to briskly conduct a variety of performing and mass cultural activities, so as to encourage the patriotic movement. Then speeches followed. Kim Jong Su was re-elected as chairman of the Central Standing Committee of the union. Pae Jin Gu made an address. A poem dedicated to Kim Jong Un was recited at the congress. -0-