Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Kim Jong-Il, accompanied by Kim Kuk-Thae and other party secretaries, inspected the Youth Electric Appliances Complex and the Huichon Machine Tool Factory in Huichon City, Jagang Province on July 26. During his on-site guidance speech, Kim encouraged factory workers to "restore production to a normal level through modernization and scientific advances."  

Various events were held on July 27 to mark the 49th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement, referred to as the day of "winning the fatherland liberation war" in North Korea. Among the events were a loyalty-pledging meeting of the Generals of the Army, Navy and Air Force; the presentation of wreaths at the statue of Kim Il-Sung by senior state and party officials; and a celebration party given by the Ministry of People's Armed Forces.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told a KCNA briefing on July 25 that "DPRK-Japan foreign ministerial talks will be held on the margins of the ARF senior-level meetings on July 31. In the talks, the ministers will exchange their opinions on matters concerning principles and pending issues to normalize relations."

During a July 26 KCNA briefing, North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson remarked on the prospects for DPRK-US dialogue, saying, "although a scheduled visit of a U.S. special envoy was cancelled in the aftermath of the Yellow Sea incident, we will continue to approach the matter from our consistent position, should the U.S. decide to dispatch an envoy in the future when conditions are right."

KCNA reported on July 25 that "the South Korean Defense Minister said that the South would respond firmly if the North commits another provocation during its towing of the vessel sunk during the Yellow Sea naval clash. This is an extremely dangerous and violent remark that could re-trigger war and military clashes between the South and the North."

The chief of the North Korean delegation to the inter-Korean ministerial talks sent a telephone message to the Unification Minister of the South on July 25, saying, "we regret the armed clash incident that occurred accidentally on the Yellow Sea," and proposed to open the 7th round of South-North ministerial talks in Seoul.