Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

On November 28, Rodong Sinmun ran an editorial titled "Learn from the Example of Ranam Laborers, the Determination to Defend the Top Leader and Achieve Labor's Tasks. " It asserted, "The times call less for people who vow and chant slogans, than for people who sacrifice everything to achieve assigned revolutionary tasks and enhance work performance."  

Rodong Sinmun held a central briefing convention at the People's Culture Palace (Nov. 30), celebrating its 20,000th issue. During the briefing, it argued, "We must use the 90th birthday of Kim Il Sung and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the military to step up our publicizing of the greatness of the top leader."

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson remarked (Nov. 28) in a press meeting with the KCNA on the U.S. president's warnings to North Korea on the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "The possibility for resolving issues through dialogue has become very slim now. We have no other option but to pursue appropriate counter-actions."

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a statement (Nov. 30) assailing the Japanese authorities for the forced searches of the central and regional headquarters of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Nov. 29). He condemned the searches as part of a "deliberate political conspiracy against GAKR organs."

On December 1, mass rallies were held in Pyongyang condemning and protesting the searches.

The Central Broadcasting Station asserted on December 2, "South Korea has reverted to the confrontational mode it took prior to the adoption of the June 15 Joint Declaration. The people must launch a struggle to deter and derail the anti-unification schemes of South Korean conservatives and U.S. imperialists."

On December 2, the Pyongyang Broadcasting Station urged the "young students of South Korea to adamantly launch a struggle to bring about independent and peaceful reunification, while steadfastly maintaining the principles of national independence stipulated in the June 15 Joint Declaration."