Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

In its editorial dated Nov. 10, Rodong Sinmun urged the nation's scientists and technicians to put all its efforts into developing information technology, nano-technology and biotechnology. The editorial went on to stress, "in order to beef up the defense capability of the nation, it is imperative to place top priority on science and technology."

The Pyongyang Broadcasting Station argued, "The DPRK's Songun politics is one of the greatest political ideas and has served as the basis for our heroic struggles against colonialism. This is the very political idea that will bring final victory to us."

In a statement released on Nov. 11, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry proposed to hold inter-governmental talks between the DPRK and Japan to discuss the issue of compensation to Korean victims of Japan's human rights abuses. The statement said, "Japan's apology and compensation for the human loss caused by Japan to the Korean people is a human rights issue rather than a political issue. Therefore, we propose to hold DPRK-Japan talks at the earliest possible date to resolve the issue."

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson issued a statement regarding the U.S.'s suspension of light water reactor (LWR) construction, saying, "The U.S. shall pay a penalty for damages the DPRK sustains in the power sector due to suspended LWR construction. We shall not allow the U.S. to remove construction equipment from the area." The statement also added that the measure would not apply to sub-contractors participating in the LWR construction.

The Central Broadcasting Station reported, "The delegation of the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO), headed by executive director Charles Cartman, arrived on a flight to Pyongyang on Nov. 15."

The Central Broadcasting Station reported on Nov. 11 regarding the (South) Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU)'s national workers' rally. The report said, "The KCTU held a national workers' rally at the Seoul city hall square on Nov. 9. The rally called for the elimination of discrimination against part-time workers, an immediate stop to labor suppression, and workers' commitment to the spirit of martyr Jon Thae Il."

Rodong Sinmun propagandized on Nov. 14, "The issue of South Korea's dispatch of troops to Iraq was brought about by U.S. pressure. Therefore, the key to blocking the troop dispatch is to oppose the U.S., which is putting pressure on Seoul. In other words, people in the South must raise resistance against the U.S. as the U.S. is the very root of the issue."