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North Korea Weekly (December 17-23, 2007)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

□ On December 19, the Chosun Sinbo, or “The People's Korea,” the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) reported, “This year, the history community submitted to UNESCO documents expounding the historical value of ten historic relics, including Kaesong Castle, Manwoldae, Kaesong Namdaemun, Sungyang Confucian Shrine, Koryo Songgyungwan, Taehungsan Fortress, the Mausoleum of King Wanggon, the Mausoleum of King Kongmin and Kwanum Temple. The documentation also deals with how to preserve the relics.”

□ On December 20, major North Korean media outlets reported that a variety of commemorative performances and cultural events are being held in every corner of the nation with the 90th birthday of Kim Jong-suk (Dec. 24) around the corner.

□ On December 23, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “At the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang, high posts of the party, the cabinet and the army convened for a national meeting to celebrate the 16th anniversary of Kim Jeong-il’s assumption of the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army.”

【Outside North Korea】

□ On December 17, Director of the Chamber of Commerce of the DPRK Ri Hak-gwon emphasized in an interview with the Chosun Sinbo, or “The People's Korea,” “Providing conveniences and a favourable investment environment to foreign companies is our [the North Korean] government’s consistent policy.”- He also solicited interest by saying, “It is worthy of special attention that our [the North Korean] authorities not only permit foreign direct investment in North Korea but encourage them, taking measures to create a better investment environment for foreign companies.”The Chosun Sinbo is the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).

□ On December 19, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) contended, “Four US senators’ proposal of a resolution to put the brakes on the removal of North Korea from the list of sponsors of terrorism is a ‘laughable antic.’ US conservative hardliners cannot reverse the general currents of the times that flow toward détente surrounding the nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula.”

□ On December 20, China’s Liaoning Electric Power Company Limited’s website stated, “A delegation led by deputy director of the Liaoning Electric Power Company Ltd. Guang-Hui Wang held the first design meeting for the reinforcement of Supung Dam with a delegation from North Korea’s Ministry of Power and Coal Industries in Pyongyang from December 5 through 12. At the meeting, the two parties reached a tentative agreement on the scope, method and schedule for reinforcement construction for the old dam, regarding which safety issues have been raised.”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

□ On December 17, North Korea’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) insisted, “Songun [military-first] politics is the great and powerful method required to realize true democracy,” adding, “It is the great and powerful form of politics that provides reliable protection for a state government and further promotes its functions and roles.”