Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Major Weekly Developments in North Korea (Feb. 27-Mar. 5, 2006)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

In a commentary titled “The Third and Fourth Generations of the Revolution,” the Rodong Shinmun contended (Feb. 28), “The revolution must be carried on through the generations.” It went on to say, “It is the duty of the third and the fourth generations to settle the war of confrontation with the United States, to reunify the fatherland, and to build our country (the DPRK) into a powerful and prosperous nation.”

The Chosun Central News Agency reported (Mar. 2-3), “Kim Jeong-il visited KPA Air Force Unit 991 and KPA Unit 1522 (dates and venues unreported) and called for strengthened combat capability and training. Kim also visited the newly built Samjiyeon Palace of Students and Youths in Samjiyeon-eup, Yanggang-do, as well as the Sports Village in the Baekdusan area.”

The Chosun Central News Agency reported (Mar. 4), “A national meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the Agrarian Reform Law (Mar. 5, 1946) took place at the People’s Palace of Culture on March 4, and was attended by Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yeong-nam, Cabinet Premier Pak Bong-ju and others.” It underlined the need to push forward with mechanization and the application of science to bring about the expansion of agricultural production.

Outside North Korea

The Pyongyang Broadcasting Service contended (Feb. 28), “The crimes committed by Japan in the past of invading and destroying Korea cannot be buried, even with the passing of the time.” It emphasized, “Japan must bear this in mind, and rectify its crimes of the past as soon as possible.”

With regard to the declaration made by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian that the National Unification Council shall cease to function, the Rodong Shinmun reported (Mar. 4), “We oppose the independence of Taiwan and support China’s efforts to realize complete reunification of the fatherland.”

In a commentary, the Rodong Shinmun contended (Mar. 4), “The global trend of multi-polarization is beneficial in building a new and fair international order and in accomplishing the grand task of world independence, and the trend of multi-polarization cannot be stopped.”

Inter-Korean Issues

On the occasion of the 87th March 1 Independence Movement Day, the Rodong Shinmun published an editorial (Mar. 1) titled “Let Us Open a Path Toward Independent Reunification Through the Vigorous Struggle to Gain Independence from Foreign Powers” in which it emphasized, “Engraving the ideology of ‘by our nation itself’ deep within our hearts, we must forcefully launch the three-point patriotic movement for independent reunification, peace, and grand national solidarity, and accomplish the grand task of reunification of the fatherland.”

The Rodong Shinmun propagandized (Mar. 5), “The people of South Korea must press for the formation of the ‘grand anti-conservative coalition’ in order to crush the pro-US sycophantic and traitorous forces that vehemently oppose independent reunification and the acts of anti-unification conservative forces that fly in the face of history.”