Weekly on North Korea (October 27-November 2, 2006)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

• The military and the people in each city and county had rallies to celebrate the success of the nuclear test in October, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on October 28, and on October 30, and the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on October 30.

• The Central Broadcasting Station and the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service reported on November 1 st that the National Exhibition on the Achievements of Youth’s Scientific Technology began on October 31.

• The Central Broadcasting Station and the Pyongyang Broadcasting Station reported on October 28 that the 17 th National Program Contest & Exhibition was held in Pyongyang from October 19 to October 27.

• The reporting session commemorating the 60 th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean Journalist Union was held on October 27, said the Central Broadcasting Station on October 27.

• The Central Broadcasting Station reported on October 31 that the scientific researchers at the branch of Academy of Science for Agriculture in Yanggangdo are getting excellent results in the research on the development of agricultural sciences technologies.

Inter-Korean Affairs

• The spokesperson of North Korea’s Asia-Pacific Peace Committee made an announcement on the Mt. Geumgang tourism on November 1 st, reported the Korean Central News Agency on November 1 st.

In this announcement, North Korea made clear its position on the Mt. Geumgang tourism after the nuclear test, denouncing the South Korean Grand National Party.

• The spokesperson of the North Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation released the statement regarding the South Korean sanction toward the North on October 28, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on October 29.

Foreign Affairs

• The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that North Korea would return to the six-party talks, reported the Central Broadcasting Station and the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on November 1.