Pyongyang, February 21 (KCNA) -- Following are major news items and articles in leading newspapers of the DPRK on Wednesday:

- A decree of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on awarding the Lathe No.26 Model Machine Prize to exemplary units and machines were released.

- Builders of Jonwi Street received materials associated with the love of the Workers' Party of Korea.

- Successes have been made in various economic sectors.

Rodong Sinmun

- The group for study tour of Chairman Kim Jong Il's birthplace in the Paektusan Secret Camp, made up of officials of the youth league from across the country, climbed Mt Paektu.

- A meeting took place to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Songchongang Unha Garment Factory.

- One hundred and tens of women in Kangwon Province advanced into worksites seething with the struggle to implement the resolutions of the Party.

- An article says that socialism is the paradise for people and capitalism is the grave for working people.

Minju Joson

- An article stresses that victory always lies in the road of following the great Party Central Committee.

- Foreign ministers of the DPRK and Equatorial Guinea exchanged messages of greeting.

- Another article notes that countries in the Middle East have strongly demanded the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from the region. -0-