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Major Weekly Developments in North Korea (Dec. 27, 2004 - Jan. 2, 2005)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

The Central Broadcasting Station reported (Jan. 1), “In celebration of the new year on January 1, 2005, the three major public newspapers – Nodong Shinmun, The Joseon People’s Army, and The Youth Vanguard – published a joint editorial titled ‘Let the Entire Party, Military, and People Unite as One to Further Strengthen the Military-First Policy’.”

Accompanied by Lee Myeong-su, Hyeon Cheol-hae, Park Jae-gyeong and others, Kim Jeong-il visited (date unreported) the military bases of the 563rd battalion and the 2625th battalion of the North Korean People’s Army, ordering them to “strengthen combat capabilities.” (Dec. 31 & Jan. 1, Central Broadcasting Station)

The Central Broadcasting Station reported (Dec. 30), “In honor of the 10th anniversary of the military-first policy, ‘a conference and an evening party at which men and women of the Army, Navy and Air Force of the People’s Army pledged allegiance to Comrade Kim Jeong-il so as to become the leading battalion of his military-first policy’ took place on the 30th at the Dabakseol checkpoint with the participation of Jo Myeong-rok, Kim Young-choon, Kim Il-cheol and other generals and officers of the People’s Army.”

Outside North Korea

In an editorial (date unreported) titled “The US-Japan Joint Operations Plan is the Product of Invasive Maneuvers against North Korea,” Nodong Shinmun criticized the two nations and said, “The US-Japan Joint Operations Plan implies that the reactionary forces of the US and Japan have completed their plans to invade Joseon (Korea) and are carrying it out to a dangerous stage.” (Dec. 27, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)

Regarding the “results of DNA tests on the remains of the Japanese abducted to North Korea,” the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry asserted in a press conference with the Joseon Central Agency that “the Japanese government should immediately return the remains of Megumi Yokota as we have requested via official channels and also launch a thorough investigation so as to get to the bottom of the recent fabrication of results of DNA tests on the remains of Japanese abductees, and apologize to North Korea.” (Dec. 31, Central Broadcasting Station)

The Central Broadcasting Station reported (Dec. 31), “As the death toll is expected to approach 125,000 as a result of the earthquake and tsunami that struck 11 nations and regions on the Indian Ocean, the city of Meulaboh in Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, in particular, have been entirely uprooted according to reports in the foreign press.”

Inter-Korean Issues

In an editorial titled “Disgrace Will Only Bring About Death and Humiliation,” Nodong Shinmun (date unreported) condemned South Korea and said, “The South Korean authorities benefited nothing by sending troops to Iraq, and maneuvers to extend the troops’ tour there, which is a result of disgraceful submission to the US, is a foolish adventure asking for new deaths and humiliation.” (Dec. 27, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)

In a statement titled “Summary of the Anti-Unification Acts Committed by the Participatory Government of South Korea,” the Secretariat of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland asserted that “South Korea’s Participatory Government must admit it has engaged in anti-unification acts in the past two years and should apologize to the Korean people as soon as possible through whatever formality or method.” (Dec. 28, Central Broadcasting Station)