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North Korea Weekly (November 19-25, 2007)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

□ On November 16, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated, “The Academy of Koryo Medical Science of the DPRK has built a database containing over 20,000 entries on Koryo medicine.” The KCNA added, “The database is a comprehensive compilation of a wealth of data, including remedies and prescriptions, developed over thousands of years in perfect alignment with Korean’s lifestyles and physical constitutions and rich data substantiated by Koryo medicine’s scientific research methodology.”

□ On November 19, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) reported, “The Cell and Genetic Engineering branch of the State Academy of Sciences of the DPRK has achieved results in stem cell research, which is a state-of-the-art area of technology.” The PBS added, “The branch’s vigorous research has laid a robust theoretical ground for the practical utilization of stem cells.”

□ On November 21, the KCNA said, “As the month of November draws to a close, all households in [North] Korea have started kimjang [making kimchi in preparation for winter].” The news agency added, “This year’s kimjang season has come later than other years because the unprecedented heavy rains this summer caused great damage to the vegetable crops that are used for kimjang.”

□ On November 22, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, “The Pyongyang Building Materials Factory held a ceremony to mark the start of operation on November 21, with Vice Premier Jon Sung-hun attending, among others.” The media outlet also stated, “The factory will help improve the quality of life of the people by producing high-quality tiles and resin window frames.”

□ On November 22, the KCBS reported, “The construction of the earthen bank (a rock-fill bank of the Hwang River) for Yesong Youth Power Plant I has been completed to ensure the early launch of the power plant’s operation.”

【Outside North Korea】

□ On November 17, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) expressed gratitude for the Chinese government’s rescue activities for the North Korean-flagged ship Jungsan, which was wrecked off the coast of Shangdong Province, saying, “We are extremely grateful for China’s help.” The news agency added, “China’s offering its help on this occasion is a patent manifestation of the long-standing DPRK-China friendship, which continues to develop day after day,” emphasizing, “We will continue to exert our full efforts to boost friendly relations between the DPRK and China.”

□ On November 20, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) said, “The US is adjusting the deployment, structure, roles and responsibilities of US military units and bases scattered around the world,” and alleged, “The US is making Japan a base for operations, forays and supply in order to more easily oversee all of Korea, militarily hold China in check, and ultimately establish its military dominance in Asia.”

□ On November 22, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a Q&A session with a KCNA reporter, “At the 62nd US General Assembly, a resolution was adopted to denounce the human rights situation of our republic [the DPRK],” contending, “The human rights resolution, a result of illicit collusion between Japan and the EU and ill-intentioned propaganda containing only false and fabricated information, is not acceptable.”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

□ On November 16, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “Today, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun met with North Korean Cabinet Premier Kim Yong-il, who was attending the first round of inter-Korean premiers’ talks.” The news agency also reported, “At the meeting with the president, Premier Kim Yong-il delivered National Defence Commission Chairman Kim Jeong-il’s greetings to President Roh.”

□ On November 20, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) stressed, “The conviction that our nation is the best is a spiritual source of the driving power behind the pursuit of the unity and reunification of our nation. The entire Korean nation ought to join forces in firm unity to reject foreign forces and press ahead with the battle for national unity and reunification with commitment to opening a new era of national prosperity and a golden age of self-reliance and reunification.”