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North Korea Weekly (August 6-12, 2007)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

o On August 6, the Chosun Sinbo, or The People's Korea, the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), said, “The 10th national exhibition of scientific and technological achievements in health hosted by the DPRK Ministry of Public Health opened on August 1st and will continue until the 10th.”

o On August 7, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “As part of a project to identify traditional folk dishes that have yet to be academically examined in the interest of making the diet of the people more varied and scientific, the Cooking Institute of Jang Chol Gu Pyongynag University of Commerce has collected information on traditional dishes from the elderly in cities and counties across the nation, leading to the discovery of as many as 1,300 traditional dishes.”

o On August 8 at 10:00, North Korea announced through such media outlets as the KCNA, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) and the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS), “It has been agreed that the 2nd South-North Korean summit will be held in Pyongyang from August 28 to August 30.”

o On August 8, North Korean Central TV reported, “The precipitation last night and today has reached 50–100 mm in most regions of the nation, while in the mountainous areas of South Pyongan Province, some parts of South Hamgyong Province, and North Hwanghae and Gangwon Provinces, both located in the middle region of the Korean peninsula, there have been heavy downpours of 100–200 mm of rain.”

Outside North Korea

o On August 6, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) featured a report article titled “The Identity of the Nuclear Culprit Can Never be Concealed” in which it argued, “In order to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the nuclear weapons of US troops stationed on the peninsula should be unveiled and subjected to international scrutiny.” The PBS went on to emphasize, “Rather than make a clamor about others’ nuclear issues, the US imperialists should fully disclose the nuclear weapons they themselves have brought into South Korea, submit them for international inspection, and withdraw forthwith all nuclear weapons and US troops forcefully occupying South Korea.”

o On August 7, North Korea's cabinet organ Minju Joson threatened, “[We] have enough physical power to stop Japanese authorities’ suppression of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), if it continues,” and contended, “[Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe and his cohort should put an immediate end to their suicidal activities of provoking anti-Japanese sentiments among our troops and people.”

o On August 9, the PBS claimed that the US has increased its budget for propaganda broadcasting targeting North Koreans in order to boost its efforts to invade North Korea with the capitalist philosophy and culture.

o On August 10, the North's Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation stated concerning the kidnapping of South Korean civilians by Taliban militants in Afghanistan, “As members of the same race, our hearts are pained by the kidnapping of South Korean civilians,” and suggested, “The root cause of and responsibility for this incident reside fully with the US.”

Inter-Korean Issues

o On August 6, North Korea’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service maintained, “The three principles of the reunification of the fatherland—self-reliance, peaceful reunification and great unity of the entire nation—are common codes shared by Koreans that will help South and North Korea, which have different ideologies and political opinions and conflicting institutions, jointly resolve the issue of reunification, as well as guiding principles South and North should uphold as guidelines in dialogue and negotiations.”

o On August 7, the North’s Rodong Sinmun insisted, “The South Korean authorities’ conducting of the South Korea-US Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL) exercise from August 20 to 30 is a serious military provocation that builds the risk of war and disturbs the peace on the Korean peninsula.”

o On August 9, Rodong Sinmun featured an editorial titled “Execution of the June 15 Joint Declaration Is a Means to Accelerate the Reunification of the Fatherland” in which it stressed, “The entire nation is strongly determined in its pursuit of the realization of independent reunification by steadfastly upholding the June 15 Joint Declaration as our signpost pointing to the reunification of our fatherland.”