Pyongyang, January 12 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in Rodong Sinmun, a leading newspaper of the DPRK, on Monday:

- A serial article deals with the fact that a great new history of socialist rural construction was opened up.

- New villages have been built at the Yaksan Farm in Songhwa County and the Sinsaeng Farm in Chongdan County, South Hwanghae Province.

- Achievements are being made in various units.

- Officials and members of the women's union across the country displayed patriotic deeds to inject vitality into the new year's advance.

- Mass sports activities were conducted in different parts of the country to observe the first day of sports this year. -0-