• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Weekly on North Korea (July 29 to August 4, 2005)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited Large Combined Unit ( an army corpse)’s command center of the central front region, Geumsung Honor Unit 615, and the sub-unit of Army Unit 228, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on August 3 and 4.

North Korea is planning to re-run the art performance ‘Arirang’ and the group gymnastics to celebrate the 60 th anniversary of Korea ’s Liberation Day from the Japanese colonial rule and the establishment of the party. The repeat performances will be held between August 15 and October 31.

A total of around 100,000 people including producers, performers, and students participated in the rehearsal on July 26 at the ‘5.1 Stadium’, according to the (North) Korean Central News Agency on July 29.

Continued efforts are being made to accomplish the goals of the ‘party slogans’ through media such as the Rodong Daily and the Central Broadcasting Station, according to the Rodong Daily on July 26 and 27 and the Central Broadcasting Station on August 1 and others.

In commemoration of the 59 th anniversary of the initial announcement of the ‘Statute on the equality of both gender’ on July 30, 1946, women’s duties and roles were emphasized in the military-first era while various cases concerning the will and activities for women laborers were publicized in the production sites, according to the Rodong Daily on July 30.

The province of Pyongyang gave publicity to the innovative accomplishments of the factories related to the ‘campaign for the production of consumer goods on Aug 3.’ The achievements included the attainments of 186% of the expected production plans and 173% of the product distribution plans during July, according to the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on August 3.

It was publicized that the factories and businesses in various sectors achieved the ‘plan for people’s economy during July.’ especially with sectors such as electronic parts, construction and transportation of goods showing a high level of achievements following on from the first half of the year 2005, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 31.

Inter-Korean Affairs

Related to the recent incident concerning the removal of McArthur’s statue located in Incheon’s Liberal park, various efforts are being made to instigate a public rally promoting anti-Americanism, anti-war, and the withdrawal of American troops stationed in the Korean peninsula by claiming the legitimacy of the removal of the statue, according to the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on July 30, August 3, and 4.

Both Koreas met in Gaeseong on July 28 until 30 to attend the 5 th working-level consultative meeting on inter-Korean road and railroad reconnection. The two Koreas adopted a 6-point agreement that covers issues such as joint check ups of the status on the construction of the railroad connection sections, test drives of the trains, and the opening ceremony for the roads.

A joint statement was announced on July 30 concerning the ‘preparation committee on inter-Korean overseas joint event for the implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration.’ The August 15 Grand National Festival will be held between August 14 and 17 in Seoul and the South-North Football Games as well as other athletic competitions will be held together, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 31.

External Affairs

The 4 th round of the 6-party talks from July 26 are under way in Beijing to resolve North Korea ’s nuclear issue with bilateral negotiations being more active than the general meetings. Other critical factors are being negotiated but there seems to be a substantial difference in opinion concerning the scope of nuclear dismantlement.

Minister Baek Nam-soon of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Thailand on July 24 and 25 and attended the 12 th round of the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting, which was held in Vientiane , Laos on July 29. He performed diplomatic activities such as talks between the ministers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both Koreas and made key speeches at the meetings.

In memorial of the 100 th anniversary of the Katsuna-Taft agreement (a secret agreement between the United States and Japan to recognize Japan’s sphere of influence in Korea in 1905 in return for the recognizance of the United States’ influence in the Philippines), the spokesperson for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland emphasized the illegitimacy of the agreement and made acrimonious criticisms towards Japan, mentioning the issue of Dokdo Island, the territorial dispute between South Korea and Japan, according to the Central Broadcasting Station and Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on July 29.