Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

On September 5, National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il inspected the September 27 Chicken Plant in the Ryokpo District of Pyongyang, which had been newly built by the Korean People's Army. His entourage included Kim Young Chun, Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, and party secretaries Kim Guk Tae, Kim Ki Nam, and Jeong Ha Chul.

On September 8, North Korea held a national conference at the April 25 Culture Hall on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of regime's foundation (September 9). Senior officials including Kim Young Nam, the President of the Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and party secretary Kim Young Soon attended the Conference.

Chinese President Zhiang Zemin paid an official visit to North Korea from September 3 to 5 at the invitation of Kim Jong Il.

On September 6, on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the U.S. Forces advance on the Korean peninsula (September 8, 1945), a Foreign Ministry spokesperson released a statement saying, "The U.S. crept into South Korea disguising itself as a liberator, but it really was an occupation force that imposed division and suffering on the Korean people. The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Korea is a pressing issue that cannot be delayed any longer."

On September 6, North Korea agreed to South Korea's September 6 proposal to hold the fifth round of ministerial talks in Seoul from September 15 to 18.

On September 7, the North Korea's Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation issued a statement proposing that "relevant South Korean groups and figures hold working-level discussions on Mt. Kumkang for the joint hosting of academic forums to defend Korea's territorial claim to Dokdo Island against Japan, and of a National Foundation Day event at King Tangun's mausoleum on October 3."