Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

On August 2, the Central Broadcasting Station broadcast an editorial titled "The Achievements Accumulated by the Supreme Leader Kim Il-Sung for the Good of the People Will Gloriously Shine for Hundreds of Thousands of Generations." The editorial said that "standing at the forefront of our revolution is Comrade Kim Jong-Il, who is just like the Supreme Leader Kim Il-Sung. It is the unshakable belief of our people that Comrade Kim Jong-Il is indeed Supreme Leader Kim Il-Sung."

A meeting was held in Pyongyang on August 4 at the People's Cultural Palace to mark the 5th anniversary of the August 4, 1997 presentation of Kim Jong-Il's thesis titled "Thoroughly Implement the Reunification Legacy of the Supreme Leader Kim Il-Sung." Among the attendants were Yang Hyong-Sop and Kim Yong-Sun. The meeting urged the South to "reject collaboration with foreign forces and to come forward to the path of cooperation among the Korean people."

On July 31 the Central Broadcasting Station carried the Joint Press Release of the DPRK-Japan Foreign Ministerial talks, with comments that said, "both sides agreed to make efforts to resolve the issues of atoning for past wrongdoings and work out other outstanding issues to normalize and improve bilateral relations."

North Korea's National Defense Commission gave a banquet at the Mansudae Art Theater to commemorate the first anniversary of Kim Jong-Il's visit to Russia. Among those present was the acting Russian Ambassador to Pyongyang. The banquet highlighted the strength of DPRK-Russia friendship and cooperation.  

KCNA argued August 2 that "our July 25 telephone message to the South was the reflection of our sincere willingness to bring stalled South-North relations back on track and to strengthen South-North exchanges and cooperation. We will, however, reconsider the message if there is any characterization of this expression of regret as a sign of weakness or if they continue to make non-sensical arguments."

On August 4 the Central Broadcasting Station carried the Joint Press Release of the South-North working-level meeting that was held to prepare for the 7th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks scheduled for August 12-14 at Mt. Kumkang. The report said that "both sides agreed to hold North-South senior-level talks in Seoul from August 12 to 14, to discuss and work out such issues as the relinking of cross-border rail lines and roads, and the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Zone."