Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

The Central Broadcasting Station propagandized on May 19, "With the legendary Songun leadership at the helm of national defense, the DPRK has established a military-centric society with a high level of armament of all people and fortification of all cities and regions."

Kim Jong Il, accompanied by Ju Kyu Chang and Mun Myong On, members of the WPK Central Committee, and others, paid an inspection visit to Rakwon Machine Complex (date unreported). He also held summit talks on May 22 with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who was visiting the DPRK. (May 18, 22, Central Broadcasting Station)

Pyongyang Broadcasting Station asserted, quoting a Rodong Sinmun editorial, "Unless the U.S. clearly and practically changes its hostile policy toward the DPRK, we will continue to adhere to our Songun principle and take all possible measures for self-defense."

The Central Broadcasting Station criticized Japan on May 21, saying, "The Japanese reactionaries have dispatched two Maritime Self-Defense Force ships to the Arabian Sea on May 17, the Kongou, equipped with the Aegis system, and the destroyer Ariake, to fulfill their ambition of overseas expansion."

The Central Broadcasting Station denounced the U.S. on May 22: "Prompted by a sinister political purpose to force the DPRK to change its inviolable socialist system, the U.S. State Department has recently released so-called 'Report on Human Rights and Democracy,' raising issues with our human rights situation."

The Central Broadcasting Station claimed on May 20, "The South Korean authorities adhere to their plan to dispatch additional forces to Iraq under the pretext of its military alliance with the U.S. However, as the troop dispatch to Iraq is an act that escalates tensions on the Korean peninsula, we can never overlook nor forgive such an act."

A spokesperson for the DPRK Students' Committee issued a statement on May 21 encouraging students in the South to join the struggle to abolish the National Security Law: "Students in South Korea must join the struggle to put an end to the fascist anti-unification factions and repeal the evil anachronistic National Security Law." (May 22, Central Broadcasting Station)