Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

North Korea's military convened the [Company Commanders Assembly] on Feb. 27th and 28th, the first since Kim Jong-il assumed the presidency, to swear loyalty to their new president. A grand report session was also convened to commemorate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the publication of Kim Il-sung's [Thesis on Socialist Agriculture], and the participants urged "resolution of the food situation through revolution in agricultural production".

Other official organizations such as the [Women's League], [Confederation of Workers], and the Youth League gathered for a plenary session to discuss Kim Jong-il's New Year's directive for cadres to work in service of the people, achieving the goals stated in the joint New Year's editorial, as well as specific issues facing the respective organizations.

The head of North Korean Red Cross issued a letter to the ROK requesting repatriation of communist prisoners released from South Korean prisons on March 25th. The organization also demanded that South Korea meet all prerequisites proposed at its March First Commemorative Assembly in Pyongyang.

A spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry also demanded that the US clarify its statements of the possibility of the construction of the light-water reactors proceeding beyond the year 2003, the date specified in the mutual agreement between the two countries.