• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

North Korea Weekly (December 24-30, 2007)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

□ On December 24, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun said, “December 24 is the day Comrade Kim Jeong-il assumed supreme commandership of the [North] Korean People’s Army in keeping with the desire of all the people and the army’s officers and men.” The newspaper claimed, “The Songun politics of Comrade Kim Jeong-il, who succeeded the Leader [Kim Il-seong], has opened a new era [for North Korea] to become a great and powerful nation,” adding, “Only with formidable political and military power will there be nothing in the world to fear and nothing beyond our capability.”

□ On December 24, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “A national meeting was held to mark the 90th birthday of Comrade Kim Jeong-suk at the April 25 House of Culture. Among those present were senior officials of the party, the army, the cabinet, civic groups, ministries and national institutions.” The KCNA emphasized, “We [North Koreans] ought to follow in the footsteps of Kim Jeong-suk who endeavoured to defend the leader [Kim Il-seong] and follow Kim Jeong-il with absolute trust in order to thrust open the gate to a great and powerful nation in the year marking the 100th birthday of President Kim Il-seong.”

□ On December 26, the KCNA said, “Farmers enjoy a long holiday every winter from early December to mid-February. Farmers from Jongpyong and Sinhung Counties in South Hamgyong Province who are taking a rest at Kobangsan Resort in Pyongyang have toured the Korean Revolution Museum and attended performances at theatres in the city.” The news agency propagandized, “Farmers are spending delightful days at resorts across the country thanks to state-provided benefits.”

□ On December 27, Rodong Sinmun published an editorial titled “The Pride of the People Who Live under the Kim Il-seong Constitution” to stress the importance of the observance of law. The editorial contended, “Strengthening socialistic legality in our everyday lives provides a significant guarantee for the defense, preservation and further glorification of socialism.”

□ On December 27, North Korea’s Central TV reported, “The Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission analyzed athletes’ performance this year to select the ten most outstanding athletes of 2007.” The TV station announced the list of the ten athletes, which included such female athletes as judoka Kye Sun-hui and soccer players Ye Sun Hui and Li Gum-suk.

【Outside North Korea】

□ On December 26, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun featured an editorial titled “Unchanging Anti-Korea and Aggressive Policy” in which it insisted, “The US’s policy toward Korea is an aggressive one hinged on military power and is a fundamental reason behind mounting tensions on the Korean peninsula.” The editorial denounced the US, claiming, “By aggressively pitting South Koreans against their own brothers and sisters and urging them toward confrontation and military hostility, the US is creating conflict within the nation and impeding the nation’s movement toward reunification.”

□ On December 28, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) said, “US soldiers continue to commit crimes,” and emphasized, “The reason crimes by US soldiers are becoming more rampant in South Korea rather than being eliminated is that the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between South Korea and the US. Putting an end to both the agreement and the US’s policy of forceful occupation of South Korea as soon as possible is the only solution.”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

□ On December 26, North Korea’s Central TV aired a 30-minute documentary film titled The Meeting of Kim Jeong-Il and President Roh Moo-hyun. Showing President Roh passing through a Pyongyang street in an open-top car and meeting with Chairman Kim Jeong-il as Arirang plays in the background, the documentary pronounced the 2007 summit declaration a “valuable outcome that addressed a range of issues in order to powerfully press ahead toward the reunification of the nation.”