Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

A national remembrance ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the death of Cha Kwang-Soo was held at the People¡¯s Culture Palace on October 30. Among those present were senior officials of the party, state and military, including Jo Myong-Rok, Director of the People¡¯s Army General Political Bureau, party secretary Kim Ki-Nam, Kim Yong-Chun, Chief of the General Staff of the People¡¯s Army, Premier Hong Song-Nam, and others.  

The Democratic Women¡¯s Union gathered in Pyongyang on October 31 for its 40th plenary meeting. The key agenda of the meeting was to discuss the ¡°tasks for strengthening and transforming the city and county committees of the Union into fighting organizations that risk lives to defend the Supreme Leader, and loyally follow the military-first revolution policies of Comrade Kim Jong-Il.¡±

The North Korean Red Cross Central Committee issued a statement on October 30, saying, ¡°We are not responsible for any consequences that might arise from our Japanese counterpart¡¯s breaking of our trust.¡±

The North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the KCNA that ¡°if there were no hostile relations such as those existing now between the U.S. and the DPRK, we would have no reason to pour energy into strengthening our defense capabilities and making special weapons despite economic hardship.¡±

The KCNA reported on the following meetings as follows: the first meeting of the working-level council for the construction of the Kaesong Industrial Complex held in Pyongyang from October 30 to November 2, which resulted in a 7-point agreement;  the second meeting of the North-South working-level council for the prevention of the flooding of Injin River held in Pyongyang from October 30 to November 2; and a working-level meeting of the North-South Red Cross held at Mt. Kumkang from October 31 to November 2.

Pyongyang Broadcasting Station asserted in regards to the working-level Red Cross meetings that, ¡°the South has refused to release an agreement, leaving in a hurry to catch their return ship and citing failure of communication lines with Seoul. But they are now misleading public opinion by shifting the blame on our lack of goodwill.¡±