Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Major Weekly Developments in North Korea (August. 14 - August. 20, 2006)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

The Chosun Central News Agency reported (Aug. 15), “Kim Jeong-il, accompanied by KPA generals Lee Myeong-su, Hyeon Cheol-hae and Pak Jae-gyeong, as well as first vice department directors of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea Lee Je-gang and Lee Jae-il, attended a performance by the State Merited Chorus of the Korean People’s Army. Kim expressed great satisfaction with the fact that the artists of the KPA Stated Merited Chorus gave an excellent performance that fully captured the faith and will of the Korean people and the revolutionary spirit of the soldiers.”


The Chosun Central News Agency published an obituary (Aug. 20) in the name of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, stating, “Im Dong-wook, deputy to the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly and director of the Central Committee of the WPK, died of incurable disease at 7 a.m. on August 20, at the age of 70.”

Outside North Korea

In a commentary, the Chosun Central News Agency alleged (Aug. 16), “Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi’s sixth visit to the Yasukuni Shrine since he assumed office despite strong protest at home and abroad is a grave insult and provocation to the people of victim nations as it is meant to justify the history of aggression and crimes committed by Japan and honor the departed souls of the militarists.”


The Chosun Central News Agency contended (Aug. 20), “As a result of interference by the United States in the internal affairs of other nations, the sovereignty of nations is being violated and trampled. The principles of justice and fairness are being violated in the resolution international issues, and the peace and security of the world are gravely threatened.”

Inter-Korean Issues

In a commentary, the Chosun Central News Agency blasted (Aug. 18), “The Ulchi Focus Lens joint military exercise that will be staged in South Korea at a time when the war maneuvers and the moves by the US and its followers to isolate and stifle the DPRK have entered an extreme phase, is a very dangerous military escapade that is driving the situation of the Korean peninsula to the brink of war, and is a grave military provocation to the DPRK.”