Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

On the occasion of the New Year, North Korea's newspapers Rodong Shinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi published a joint editorial entitled "Let Us Fully Demonstrate the Dignity and Might of the DPRK under the Great Banner of the Military-Based Policy".  In the editorial, the North asserted, "the army-based policy should be thoroughly implemented in every aspect of society, and we must strengthen our revolutionary armed forces and enhance their militant might."

On January 1, the Central Broadcasting Station reported, "on the morning of January 1, Juche 92 (2003), the workers, soldiers of the Korean People's Army, students, patriotic warriors for reunification, former unconverted long-term prisoners and North Korean people living abroad presented floral baskets at the statues of Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang and in other cites around the nation."

On January 4, Kim Jong-Il attended an art performance given by the Korean People's Army chorus on the occasion of the New Year. Among the audience were secretaries Kim Kuk-Thae and Kim Ki-Nam, and the Korean People's Army generals Ri Myong-Su, Hyon Chol-Hae, Pak Jae-Gyong and other general officers.

The Central Broadcasting Station criticized the U.S. in its comments on current events in December 30, 2002 by maintaining that "the hostile remarks made by the Bush administration that the U.S. will not tolerate North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons and that the U.S. is capable of taking military actions against Iraq and North Korea at the same time are tantamount to a declaration of war."

In a commentary dated January 3, Rodong Shinmun denounced Japan by saying, "as Japan's following in the footsteps of the U.S. with the adoption of anachronistic and hostile policy vis-a-vis the DPRK will only lead to its self-destruction, Japanese politicians should have an accurate understanding of the turn of events and abandon its inherent U.S.-toeing policy.

On January 2, the Central Broadcasting Station reported, "the Nationwide Countermeasure Committee sponsored a one million-person candle-light procession in Seoul on December 31. As the participants began the arm-in-arm candle-light procession up to the U.S. embassy, the police set up a barricade with buses and arrested officials of the committee to suppress the procession."

On January 3, Pyongyang Broadcasting Station instigated its people by saying, "as anti-Americanism is what genuine patriotism is all about and our own fate depends on anti-Americanism, all people at home and abroad should transcend their ideology, political views or religion and join the patriotic holy war of anti-Americanism