Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

The opening ceremony for the 10th People's Sports Contest was held at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on Oct. 15, attended by Kim Jung Rin, the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kwak Pom Gi, Vice-Premier of the Cabinet, and other officials, the Central Broadcasting Station reported.

Rodong Sinmun propagandized in its editorial dated Oct. 16, "as long as we have comrade Kim Jong Il who is as strong as iron, victory is ours today and tomorrow amid any hardships.  Stronger the wind, stronger our unity under the great leadership of Kim Jong Il."

Rodong Sinmun denounces the Secretary-General of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party for his remarks on Oct. 14 in which he called for sanction against the DPRK for the abduction issue. Rodong Sinmun asserted, "Japan does not deserve to be called as a dialogue partner. The DPRK will never allow Japan to meddle in any type of negotiation to resolve nuclear issues in the future."

A spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry stressed on Oct. 16, "As we will take steps to physically reveal our nuclear deterrents in due time, if the U.S. desires coexistence with the DPRK with a clear will to drop its hostile policy against us, we won't be bothered by types of dialogues. The DPRK's position remains the same."

A spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry claimed on Oct. 18, "the DPRK declares that we are entitled to a right to receive compensation from the U.S. for the significant damages caused by nullification of the basic framework agreement between the DPRK and the U.S, especially in the nuclear power and industry sector. As we will take follow-up measures, the U.S. will never be able to avoid responsibility for having unilaterally scrapped the basic framework agreement between Washington and Pyongyang."

The Central Broadcasting Station reported, "the 12th inter-Korean ministerial talks were held in Pyongyang Oct. 14-17, where North Korea's chief delegate Kim Ryong Song made following proposal: 1) mutual respect for each other's systems, 2) practical economic cooperation between the two Koreas, and 3) early resolution of humanitarian issues."

The Central Broadcasting Station reported, "a North-South Broadcasters' Seminar was held at the People's Palace of Culture on October 17. The participants called on broadcasters of both Koreas to stand at the forefront of the grand march toward reunification for 70 million fellow countrymen."