Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Kim Jong-il made visits to KPA Units 324 and 527, as well as inspection tours of five state firms and factories in Hamkyung province. He also convened a meeting of workers to encourage progress in the metals industry and production of steel.

A spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry reconfirmed North Korean positions on the missile issue at a press conference for the announcement of the results of the Fourth Missile Conference between North Korea and the US. He stated that the North's development, production, and testing are not issues open to compromise, and that they would continue to negotiate cash payments from the US in return for cessation of missile exports.

The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland made demands for the inclusion of the Korea Confederation of Student Associations and the southern headquarters of the Pan-Korean Confederation in the ROK government stated a policy of diversifying channels of contact with North Korea. They also urged the South Korean authorities to 'stay out' of the resolution process of the crash between South and North Korean vessels in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka, and let it proceed between the parties involved on the basis of fraternity and humanitarianism.