Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Kim Jong Il paid an unofficial visit to the People's Republic of China from April 19 to 21 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. He was accompanied by Chief of KPA General Staff Kim Yong Chun, Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju, Vice-Chairman of the NDC Yon Hyong Muk, and First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Sok Ju (April 22, Central Broadcasting Station).

The KCNA reported regarding the April 22 explosion at Ryongchon Railway Station, "An explosion occurred at Ryongchon Railway Station in North Pyongan Province on April 22 as two train wagons loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer and a wagon containing fuel oil accidentally came in contact with overhead electrical wiring during shunting operations. The investigation underway indicates that the damage is very serious. The DPRK government is working hard for disaster recovery and to stabilize the lives of people in the damaged area (April 24, Pyongyang Broadcasting Station).

On the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the Korean People's Army, a national meeting took place at the April 25 House of Culture on April 24. The meeting was attended by senior party, state and army officials, servicepersons of the KPA, and people from all walks of life. The following day, evening galas of youth and students were also held in various places, including Pyongyang, in celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the KPA (April 25, Central Broadcasting Station)..

Pyongyang Broadcasting Station stressed on April 22 "The Japanese reactionaries' drive for emergency legislation is an expression of their intention to invade other countries once again. As it constitutes a crime with no justifiable reason, if Tokyo continues to seek anachronistic means of aggression toward other countries while remaining oblivious to the lessons of their shameful history, they will ultimately suffer serious consequences, which will be destruction and death."

The KPA Panmunjeom Mission spokesperson issued a statement criticizing Washington: "As the U.S. puts all sorts of unreasonable pressure upon the DPRK under the pretext of a nuclear issue while staging successive war exercises against the DPRK, the U.S. has decided to withdraw even its small forces from the JSA in Panmunjeom and the DMZ, which demonstrates that the U.S.' preparations for a preemptive attack upon the DPRK are in the final stage." (April.25, Central Broadcasting Station)

The Central Broadcasting Station reported on April 25 that "an explosion occurred at Ryongchon Railway Station in North Pyongan Province on April 22 as two train wagons carrying ammonium nitrate fertilizer and a wagon containing fuel oil accidentally came in contact with overhead electrical wiring during shunting operations at the city railway station. Various foreign diplomats and members of international organizations staying in the DPRK have visited the explosion site and donated medical supplies and relief goods. Such humanitarian aid is of great help to our efforts toward disaster recovery."

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland criticized the South Korean foreign minister's recent remarks: "The South Korean foreign minister was not hesitant in making outrageous remarks at an Asian and European foreign ministers' meeting on the 17th of April, saying that any aid to North Korea can be provided only after Pyongyang freezes its nuclear program upon international nuclear inspection and verification. This clearly shows that the South is just a mouthpiece for the U.S., bent on stifling the DPRK (April 22, Central Broadcasting Station). 

Pyongyang Broadcasting Station propagandized on April 19, "As in the April 19 uprising of the past, people in South Korea today are engaged in unrelenting struggles against the U.S. and its followers who oppose unification and national reconciliation so that the new world we have earnestly hoped for can be realized as soon as possible."