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North Korea Weekly (October 8-14, 2007)

ROK National Intelligence Service

Inside North Korea

o On October 8, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) reported on the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair held at the Three-Revolution Exhibition Hall. The KCBS said Vice-Premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK Ro Tu-chol and Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong-man attended the opening ceremony, among others.

o On October 9, the North’s Rodong Sinmun said, on the occasion of the first anniversary of its daring nuclear test, that the test produced “cheers to be recorded in the nation’s half-century-long history and was a truly great miracle.” The newspaper also claimed that the test was enabled “thanks to Chairman Kim Jeong-il’s leadership, which has opened up an everlastingly clear sky of peace, prosperity and hope over the heads of the 70 million Koreans.”

o On October 10, in celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the Workers’ Party of [North] Korea (WPK), Rodong Sinmun issued a commemorative editorial, and high officials visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay homage to Kim Il-seong.

o On October 11, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, "Chairman Kim Jeong-il attended the grand gymnastic and artistic performance Arirang, accompanied by such senior officials of the party, cabinet and army as Kim Yong-nam, Kim Yong-il, Kim Il-chol, Kim Kyok-sik and Choe Tae-bok.

o On October 13, Rodong Sinmun insisted, “Independent politics is the supreme and most powerful political means that drives a country and nation’s self-reliant development and reflects human beings’ natural desires,” saying, “Independence is a fundamental idea our republic [the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] has consistently upheld in its foreign policy.”

o On October 13, the KCNA said, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School, “A commemorative meeting took place at the April 25 House of Culture. At the meeting, which was attended by President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong-nam, Chief of the KPA General Staff Kim Kyok Sik and other senior officers, Kim Jong Gak, first vice-director of the General Political Department of the Korean People's Army, delivered a report.”

Outside North Korea

o On October 8, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) reported that Kim Jeong-Il had been chosen by the Chinese portal site Tencent (www.qq.com) as one of the “World’s Ten Most Influential Politicians,” adding, “The site lauded the general’s contribution to the development of inter-Korean relations and peace and prosperity.”

o On October 9, the KCNA denounced “the PSI joint naval exercises of seven countries, including the US and Japan, slated to take place on October 13 in the waters off Japan, which is part of the East Sea of Korea” as “another expression of the anti-Korean policy of the US and Japan and a serious military provocation that will inflame our republic [the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea].”

o On October 10, the KCNA reported that North Korea and Mongolia signed a protocol of the 7th meeting of the DPRK-Mongolia Intergovernmental Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Consultative Committee in Pyongyang.

- The KCNA said, “The North Korean economic delegation led by Ri Myong-san, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, the Mongolian economic delegation, and the Mongolian ambassador to North Korea, among others, attended the signing ceremony.”

Inter-Korean Issues

o On October 11, a range of North Korean media outlets, on the occasion of the 27th anniversary (October 10) of the proposal of the founding of the Democratic Confederal Republic of Koryo, contended that the proposal is the “only justifiable means of reunification that fits the actual conditions.”

o On October 14, regarding the Ministry of Information and Communication of the Republic of Korea’s recent “order to delete pro-North Korea content” issued to progressive political parties, civic groups and students’ groups, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) insisted, “Anti-reunification forces, not satisfied with blocking access to Internet sites, are using the National Security Law to expand the scope of persecution to the point of scrutinizing and suppressing freedom in all Internet activities.”