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Major Weekly Developments in North Korea (Apr. 11 - Apr. 17, 2005)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

The third session of the 11th Supreme People’s Assembly of DPRK was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on April 11. It was attended by senior officials of the Party, the state, and the army. Three agenda items (review of the work of the Cabinet in 2004 and its tasks for 2005, result of the implementation of the budget in 2004 and approval of the 2005 budget, and organizational issues) were discussed. (Central Broadcasting Station)


A National Meeting was held at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on April 14 to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung. It was attended by ranking officials of the Party, the state and the army including Kim Yeong-nam (Chairman of the Standing Committee), Park Bong-ju (Cabinet Prime Minister) and Cho Myeong-rok (Political Bureau Chief of the Korean People’s Army). (Central Broadcasting Station)


Kim Jeong-il enjoyed the light comedy “We” produced by the artists of the April 25 Film Studio of the KPA (date unreported). Kim also enjoyed a performance given by the Chinese Hangzhou Song and Dance Ensemble (April 14) and a joint performance presented by art troupes from Russia (April 16) participating in the 23rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival. (Central Broadcasting Station)

Outside North Korea

Through a statement by a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, North Korea charged on April 12, “We will, on no terms, tolerate maneuvers by Japan to distort the history nor its claims to the Dokdo Island. Based on the might of our military-first policy, we will settle accounts with Japan, our century-old enemy.” (Central Broadcasting Station)


The Pyongyang Broadcasting Service reported (April 14), “The United States is attempting to realize its ambition to invade the DPRK by reviving the UN Forces Command.” It emphasized, “The United States should never forget that we [DPRK] are a mighty possessor of nuclear weapons.”


The Pyongyang Broadcasting Service reported (April 14), “The ‘Cooperative Agreement on Standard Measurements and Quality Control for 2005 – 2006’ was concluded in Moscow on April 11 between the State Quality Supervisory Bureau of North Korea and the Technological Adjustment and Measurement Bureau of Russia.”

Inter-Korean Issues

The Pyongyang Broadcasting Service reported (April 12), “The Joseon Buddhist Federation and the Korea-Japan Buddhist Welfare Association of South Korea have concluded an agreement to exert joint efforts to retrieve the Bukgwan Monument of Victory [set up in 1707 to commemorate the victory against the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592] plundered by Japanese soldiers [in 1905].”


The Central TV reported, “Hwang Hong-ryeon, a South Korean comrade, crossed over to North Korea in a boat at around 16:30 on April 13, evading gunshots from the South Korean army, and is currently undergoing an investigation by the pertinent authorities.”


With regard to the “Promotion of the plan codenamed OPLAN 5029-05” by the Korea-US Combined Forces Command, North Korea issued a statement through a spokesperson for the DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland on April 17, stating, “The blabbering of the pro-war maniacs in the United States and South Korea regarding particular circumstances and emergency situations is a maneuver to start a war to invade North Korea and must be nullified.” (Central Broadcasting Station)