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Major Weekly Developments in North Korea (Apr. 25 - May. 1, 2005)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

In an editorial commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), Rodong Shinmun emphasized (April 25), “The KPA must remain keenly vigilant of the moves of the US imperialists to stifle North Korea and must resolutely maintain the stance of combat readiness at all times in order to counter all enemy aggressions.”


The Central Broadcasting Station reported (April 26, April 28), “Kim Jeong-il enjoyed the congratulatory performance by the KPA Merited Choir on the anniversary of the KPA and inspected a large combined unit in the eastern sector (date unreported).”


The Central Broadcasting Station reported (May 1), “A National Meeting marking the 115th anniversary of the May 1 uprising was held at the Daean Goodwill Glass Plant on May 1, attended by Prime Minister Park Bong-ju, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly Yang Hyeong-seop, Chairman of the General Federation of Trade Union Yeom Soon-gil, etc.”

Outside North Korea

In a press conference with the Korean Central News Agency on April 25, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “In the event the United States submits the nuclear issue regarding DPRK to the United Nations Security Council, we will regard such as a declaration of war.” The spokesperson added, “The conditions and justification for participating in the six-party talks have not yet been provided.” (Central Broadcasting Station)


The State Quality Supervisory Bureau of North Korea concluded a cooperative agreement with the State Quality Supervisory Inspection and Quarantine General Bureau of China on April 25 in Beijing regarding the standardization, measurements and quality control for 2005-2006. (April 27, Central Broadcasting Station)


The Central Broadcasting Station charged (April 27), “The visits in groups by the Japanese reactionaries to the Yasukuni Shrine are an extended form of measures for territorial expansion, distortion of history and militarist aggression. Increasingly stringent and criminal features are being flaunted.”


At a press conference for the Korean Central News Agency on April 30, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lashed out at comments of US President Bush calling Kim Jeong-il a tyrant (April 28). The spokesperson asserted, “Bush is a half-baked man in terms of morality and a philistine whom we can never deal with. We do not expect the nuclear impasse to be resolved while Bush remains in office.” (Central TV)

Inter-Korean Issues

The Pyeongyang Broadcasting Service lashed out (April 29) at South Korea’s final plan for the negotiation on the grace period for rice tariffs, charging, “It reveals the fraudulent behavior of the South Korean authorities who have denied any involvement in any double-sided agreement. The agricultural and rice markets in South Korea will now be ridden with agricultural and livestock products from the United States.”


The South, North and Overseas Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions for Fulfilling the June 15th Joint Declaration released a collective statement (April 28), saying an event to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration will take place in Pyeongyang from June 14 to June 17, 2005. (April 30, Central Broadcasting Station)


Labor organizations of South and North Korea (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and General Federation of Trade Unions) released a joint statement on May 1 in Seoul and Pyeongyang, condemning Japan’s claims on Dokdo Island as well as its acts of distorting historical facts. (Central Broadcasting Station)