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Domestic news
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North Korea held memorial ceremonies commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Kim Chaek (Jan. 31, 1951) at Pyongyang's April 25th Cultural Hall with Kim Young-nam, Cho Myong-rok, Kim Il-chol, and other notables from the party, the KPA, and the government in attendance.
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Pyongyang Broadcasting stated on Jan. 29th that Chairman Kim Jong-il's 'military-first' policy is a system unprecedented in history, and praised the policy for allowing North Korea to maintain its socialist path and lead the way to 'a era of reinvigoration into a strong country, and navigating the country successfully through exceedingly difficult times'.
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On the international front
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North's Korea Central News Agency reported that the Speaker of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Young-nam expressed his condolences for victims of the recent earthquake in India through a dispatch forwarded to Indian President Narayanan.
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In a February 4th editorial, the KCNA declared that North Korea was ready to improve relations in 2001 with any nation willing to respect the country's `sovereign rights'.
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Inter-Korean Issues
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North Korea published a Joint Announcement (with South Korea) on Jan. 31st containing details of the negotiation between the respective Red Cross representatives held from the 29th to the 31st at Mt. Kumgang, and dispatched its delegates to the fourth working session of the South-North Military Talks held at Panmunjom (Jan. 31st).
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However, North Korea's Central Broadcasting engaged in its usual propaganda (Feb. 03), claiming that cold-weather military exercises in urban and other areas around Koyang County involving South Korea's famed White Horse Brigade were increasing tension and hostilities unnecessarily.
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WEEKLY NK NEWS (2001. 1.29-2.4)
