Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Accompanied by the Korean People's Army generals, Ri Myong-Su and Hyon Chol-Hae, Kim Jong- Il inspected the Korean People's Army Unit 323 on December 18 and emphasized the need to utilize very possible means to strengthen the unit's combat capabilities. He also visited the completed Kaechon-Lake Thaesong Waterway and the Naenam Cooperative Farm in the Ungok area and gave on-site guidance (specific date not reported).

In a December 22 article in Rodong Shinmun, the North maintained, "the world cannot exist without the DPRK. The army and people of the DPRK will destroy the world if the enemies dare make a nuclear strike at it. Our ultra-hard-line stance against the hard-line stance of the U.S. has not changed."  

On the occasion of the celebrations marking the 85th anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong-Sook(December 24, 1917), mother of Kim Jong-Il, the North held a national briefing convention. Among those present were high-ranking officials of the party and the military including Kim Young-Nam and Kim Il-Chul. At the convention, held in Hoeryong city of Hamkyong province on December 22, 2002, the participants reaffirmed their strong loyalty to Kim Jong-Il.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on December 17, "the remarks made by the Commander of the U.S. Marines stationed in Japan on December 13 that 'the U.S. may dispatch a U.S. aircraft carrier to the waters off the Korean Peninsula if the situation deteriorates' is nothing less than a declaration of a second Korean War."

In a December 17 commentary, Rodong Shinmun threatened, "if Japan dares violate the spirit of the Pyongyang Declaration, dancing to the tune of the U.S., it will be held wholly responsible for the ensuing consequences."  

On December 22, the Central Broadcasting Station made the groundless claims that "as the U.S. intensifies its pressure on us regarding the nuclear issue through international channels, we have started to reactivate our nuclear facilities by removing the monitoring cameras and the seals on the frozen nuclear facilities, in an effort to generate electric power."

The Central Broadcasting Station announced on December 21 that "in the presidential election held in South Korea on December 19, Roh Moo-Hyun won the election while Lee Hoe-Chang lost. This shows that opponents to the June 15 Joint Declaration and anti-DPRK forces are bound to experience miserable defeat."

On December 22, the Central Chondoism Guidance Committee instigated the people by saying, "all the people of the DPRK, South Korea and other countries should raise a unified voice so that the U.S. will accept the proposal for the concluding of a non-aggression treaty. Followers of Chondoism in South Korea should also take part in this struggle."