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North Korea Weekly (Feb. 12 - Feb. 18, 2007)

ROK National Intelligence Service

o Inside North Korea

- Kim Jeong-il’s 65th Birthday

(Feb. 15) The North Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported, "A central reporting rally commemorating Kim Jeong-il’s 65th birthday was held at April 25 Cultural Hall in the presence of high-ranking cadres of the party, the government and the military, including Kim Young-Nam and Choi Tae-Bok. In addition, a congratulatory evening party hosted by the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces was held at Victory Square and the 16th Mt. Baekdu Award international figure skating festival was held at an ice rink.”

(Feb. 16) The North Korean Central News Agency reported, "A joint congratulatory statement in the name of the party, the government and other organizations pledged that all men in uniform and civilians would remain in a state of combat readiness to fight American imperialists’ maneuvers to invade the country.”

- (Feb. 19) North Korea’s Rodong Shinmun argued, "This year marks the 33rd anniversary of Kim Jeong-il’s announcement of the general principles of imbuing all of society with the Juche [self-reliance] ideology.” It went on to say, "Today, our [North Korea’s] national might is being extraordinarily strengthened and the dignity and honor of the country and its people have reached their apex.”

o Outside North Korea

- (Feb. 12) The North Korean Central Broadcasting Station emphasized, "This year, we [North Korea] will continue to further our relations with many countries around the globe and contribute to advancing independence around the world in order to fulfill the ideology of autonomy, peace and goodwill.”

- (Feb. 13) The North Korean Central News Agency reported, "In this round of six-party talks, the parties decided to provide economic/energy assistance equivalent to one million tons of heavy oil in connection with North Korea’s discontinuance of temporary nuclear facility operation, and North Korea and the US initiated talks to normalize their relations.”

- (Feb. 14) North Korea’s Rodong Shinmun said, "Recently, the US Department of State announced that it would apply sanctions against three Chinese companies.” It lashed out at Japan, arguing that “Japan is blindly following sanctions by the US.” The newspaper went on to say, "It is widely known that Japan is subordinate to the US as its faithful ally.”

- (Feb. 19) In a statement, the spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry criticized, "The Japanese government has recently launched an extremely grave crackdown on the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan as well as North Koreans living in Japan. Our [North Korea’s] military and people will not sit idly and Abe and his associates will certainly pay the price for this.”

o Inter-Korean Issues

- (Feb. 12) North Korea’s Rodong Shinmun contended, "The South Korean government should promptly walk out of negotiations for the signing of an FTA with the US. Otherwise, it will result in disgrace and misery.”

- (Feb. 15) The North Korean Central News Agency reported, "A chief delegates’ contact for high-level North Korea-US talks was held in Gaeseong on February 15. During the contact, the two sides agreed to hold the 20th high-level talks in Pyongyang from February 27 to March 2.”

- (Feb. 19) North Korea’s Rodong Shinmun inflammatorily said, "The US is openly attempting to investigate the views and ideologies of South Korean presidential candidates ahead of a presidential election in South Korea. This constitutes an act of interference with domestic affairs. The people of South Korea must see through and flatly denounce the high-handed bid of the US to interfere with their internal affairs.”