Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

In a joint new year statement by the official organs of the party, the KPA, and the Youth league entitled, `Transforming the 55th anniversary of the foundation of the party into a year of brilliant glory and victory powered by the fire of Chollima spirit', North Korea called the year 2000 as `the year of all-out progress for a decisive march forward for a superpower', and designated the socialist ideology, unity, and science/ technology as the `three pillars' of the process.

North Korea also dismissed the Japanese foreign minister's calls for expeditious measures for nuclear safety in the DPRK as `brazen and audacious talk', and a naked grab for concessions at the talks pending between North Korea. NK also stated that the visiting researcher of the Japan Market Economics Research Institute Takashi Sukishima was being held in custody on suspicion of espionage, and decried the heightened alert status on US overseas military installations upon orders from the Secretary of Defense as illicit attempts to reinforce these facilities.

Spokesperson for North Korea's National Student Committee announced the organization's support for South Korea's laborers, farmers, and Federation of Student Unions in their `struggle for survival'. Last but not least, North Korea's prime propaganda organ `The National Front', included Kim Jong-il's meeting with Hyundai founder Chung Juyoung in its list of 10 Top Domestic News for the year 1999.