Weekly on North Korea (March 10-16, 2006)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

 

North Korea has emphasized the principle of self-reliance based on modern scientific technology, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on March 16. North Korea implemented the First and Second Science and Technology Development Plan from 1998 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2007, respectively

 

North Korea awarded factories and enterprises with the Seongun (military-first) Beacon Prize. “Seongun Beacon Prize” is the economic slogan proposed for labor mobilization in April 2003.

 

Inter-Korean Affairs

 

North Korea has continued to criticize the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration Exercise (RSOI) and the Foal Eagle Exercise (FE). RSOI/FE are exercises conducted annually by the ROK -US Combined Forces.

 

North Korea postponed the 18 th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks, which were scheduled to be held in Pyongyang from March 28-31, to April, according to the Central and Pyongyang Broadcasting Station on March 11.

 

The South and North Korean Red Cross Societies exchanged final lists of 100 family reunion candidates from each of the Koreas through the South and North Korean liaison officers in the truce village of Panmunjeom . The 13 th reunion for separated families was scheduled at Geumgangsan (the Diamond Mountains ) from March 20-25.

 

Foreign Affairs

 

The North Korean Foreign Ministry announced a statement denouncing the U.S. 2005 Human Rights Report, which is an annual report submitted to the Congress by the U.S. Department of State. It includes comprehensive evaluations of each country’s degree of democracy, press and religious freedom, and the status of human rights.

 

The regional meeting of Asian countries under the Organization for Railways Cooperation (OSJD) was held, according to the Central Broadcasting Station, on March 11.

 

The OSJD was established by the former USSR in 1956 for the purpose of strengthening cooperative ties on railroad transportation between 13 socialist countries, such as North Korea , China and Mongolia , which were connected along the axis of the Trans-Siberian railroad.

 

The Asian regional meeting was at the working-level, following the 33 rd cabinet-level meeting under the OSJD. The member countries were briefed on annual performances, agreed on the 2006 transportation plan and discussed matters related to reconstruction of cross-border railroads, customs procedures and improvements in passenger transportation conditions.