Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Kim Jong Il, accompanied by KPA Generals Ri Myong Su, Hyon Chol Hae and Pak Jae Gyong, as well as Ri Yong Chol, first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, paid an inspection visit to a food processing factory currently being constructed by KPA soldiers on a 13,000 §³ plot. He also visited KPA units 4428 and 943 (date unreported) and ordered soldiers to beef up combat capabilities (Jan. 12, 15, 16, Central Broadcasting Station).

Rodong Sinmun stressed in its Jan. 13 editorial entitled "Let us intensify the revolutionary offensive with a single-hearted unity" by saying, "as this year marks the 30th anniversary of comrade Kim Jong Il's declaration of incorporating the Juche principle into all sectors of society and the 40th anniversary of the party central committee initiatives, let us make more concerted efforts to realize the party's leading initiatives and intensify the Songun revolution on a new level."

A foreign ministry spokesperson said in a KCNA briefing regarding the nuclear issue on Jan. 12, "If the U.S. is willing to take the first step toward simultaneous actions as per the package solution by agreeing to 'compensation for a nuclear freeze', we (the DPRK) are also willing to stop nuclear activities as a starting point for denuclearization." (Jan. 13, Central Broadcasting Station)

The Central Broadcasting Station criticized Japan in an editorial (Jan, 16) entitled, "Japan's wild ambition for territorial expansion": "As reported previously, the Japanese Prime Minister recently insisted that Tok Islet is a part of Japan's territory, while Taro Aso, minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Post and Telecommunications, made provocative remarks stating that Japan would publish a stamp carrying Tok Islet. By explicitly displaying Tokyo's expansionist ambition, they once again raise the specter of Japanese military expansionism."

Pyongyang Broadcasting Station reported on Jan. 18, "Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, met with the delegation of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China led by Wang Jiarui on Jan. 17. The meeting was attended by Ji Jae Ryong and Kim Thae Jong, vice department directors of the WPK Central Committee and Wu Donghe, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK."

The Central Broadcasting Station reported (Jan. 13), "The DPRK delegation left Pyongyang for Seoul to attend the event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of Rev. Moon Ik-hwan (Jan.18, 1994), a former adviser to the National Alliance for the Democratic Movement. The delegation is led by Vice Chairman of the National Reconciliation Association Ju Jin Gu."

A secretariat for the DPRK Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland issued its information bulletin No. 858 (Jan. 17), accusing the Grand National Party of South Korea: "The GNP is conducting a campaign against running for the general election and saying that they will carry out a political shake-up. However, it is just another attempt to escape criticism and punishment delivered by the people and the history, in the upcoming election slated for April." (Central Broadcasting Station)