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Weekly on North Korea (Dec.2-9, 2005)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

Chairman Kim Jong-il inspected the army unit 744, a female company under the army unit 5833, and a three revolutionary red flag company under the army unit 2191, according to the Central Broadcasting Station and Pyongyang Broadcasting Station on Dec. 7 and 8. Before the inspections, he gave on-site guidance to a workshop at Nakwon Machinery Joint Enterprise in Pyongan Bukdo (Province) on Dec.4, Baekma-Cheolsan waterway on Dec.5, Pukjung Machine Joint Complex, and Pukjung Electrode Factory on Dec. 6, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 4 and 6.

The Central TV broadcasted preventive measures against the avian influenza on Dec. 2, reported the status on worldwide casualties on Dec. 3, 4, and 8, and broadcasted preventive measures that were taken worldwide on Dec. 5.

‘Year 2005 Nationwide Agricultural Scientific Technology Achievements Exhibition and Expo’ was held at Pyongyang on Dec. 6-7.

Russian National Academy Folk Choir held a performance at the Bonghwa Cultural Theatre on Dec. 8, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 9.

Inter-Korean Affairs

A spokesman for the DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland, through his statement said on Dec. 8 that abductees and South Korean POWs were non-existent, criticizing the Grand National Party, a South Korean opposition party for raising issues of abductees and POWs, according to the Pyongyang Broadcasting Station on Dec. 8. The Secretariat of the Committee, through its announcement, denounced the Party’s raising the issue of human rights in North Korea as an anti-national criminal act, according to the Pyongyang Broadcasting Station on Dec. 8.

The Central Broadcasting Station criticized the members of South Korean conservative organizations for damaging the tombstone of an unconverted long-term prisoner, calling it a scoundrel’s rash behavior. The Chosun (North Korean) committee for the rescue of unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea released on Dec. 8 the announcement containing the same contents, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 9.

The Secretariat of the DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland through its release to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 2, and a spokesman from Anti-Imperialist National Front through its commentary to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 3, criticized the South Korean Cabinet meeting for passing a bill on extending the deployment of its troops in Iraq, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 3 and 4.

The South and North held a meeting in Gaeseong on Dec. 7 on inter-Korean athletics games and discussed the issue of forming a unified team and participating in major international competitions such as the 2006 Doha Asian Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The South and North Korean Red Cross held the third video reunion for separated families from Dec. 8 to 9, which was attended by a total of 585 South and North Koreans from 80 families.

Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, held a meeting with South Koreans including Shin Ki-nam, chairman of the national organizing committee for the ‘2006 Seoul World Library and Information Congress’ at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Dec.2.

Foreign Affairs

Concerning the cancellation of bilateral talks between North Korea and the U.S., a spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a press conference on Dec.2, denounced the U.S.’ attitude and implied that North Korea would relate the issue to the Six-Party Talks, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 3.

Rodong Sinmun on Dec. 8 criticized the EU for turning a blind eye to the U.S.’ human rights abuses, submitting a resolution on human rights in North Korea to the UN, playing a leading role in the adoption of the resolution in the UN.

The North Korean Bureau for Earthquakes and the Chinese Bureau reached an agreement on plans for scientific and technological exchanges during 2006-2007, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 5. North Korea and China signed the minutes of the13th talks on scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation in meteorology in Beijing on Dec. 6, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 8.

The Chosun (North Korean) Trade Promotion Committee and St. Petersburg city signed an accord on trade and economic cooperation on Dec. 6, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 7.

A delegation from the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries led by vice chairman Cheon Hyun-chan, paid a visit to Russia on Dec. 8, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Dec. 8.