Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

On November 1, the Rodong Sinmun ran an editorial commemorating its foundation in 1946. The editorial said, "Our fundamental mission as reporters and journalists is to give our life to the political and ideological fight for defending the ideological theories, directives, authority and causes of Comrade Kim Jong Il."

On November 4, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station propagandized that "the foremost duty of the people is to safeguard the well-being of the top leader, to give up their lives to protect Comrade Kim Jong Il from harsh storms."

In the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom released by the U.S. on October 30, North Korea was described as a "country requiring special attention." In response to this, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the KCNA, "The U.S. is acting rudely and arrogantly. They are trampling the principles of international law, and telling us what to do, as if it were a judge on religious matters."  

On November 4, the Rodong Sinmun printed an article titled "Even A Hundred Apologies and Atonements Miss the Mark If They Are Not Genuine." The article argued, "Japan has apologized and expressed atonement on many occasions, without translating its words into actions. If anything, it has shamelessly denied the historical facts of its aggression."

On October 30, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station criticized the Japanese government response to the U.S. war on terrorism, saying, "The passage of a legislation on Special Measures to Counter Terrorism by the upper house of the Japanese Diet, is designed to exercise self-defense rights under the pretense of protecting U.S. forces."  

On October 31, the KCNA quoted foreign reports in a complete coverage of U.S. operations in Afghanistan and commented, "As the U.S. has increased the intensity and scope of its air strikes, cities and villages where civilians live are under brutal bombardment. There is a possibility that the military operation might turn into a quagmire or fail."

On November 3, Kim Young Seong, chief of the North Korean delegation to the inter-Korean ministerial talks, sent a phone message to his South Korean counterpart saying,  "The sixth senior-level talks will be held on Mt. Kumkang from November 9 to 12."

On November 3, the spokesperson for the General Federation of Trade Unions released a statement denouncing the South Korean authorities for "the reincarceration of the President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the crackdown on labor unions and patriotic pro-reunification groups."