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Weekly on North Korea No. 877 (Jan. 28-Feb. 3, 2008)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

*The Central Broadcasting Station reported on Jan. 26 that Chairman Kim Jung-il inspected many factories after giving on-the-spot guidance to Ganggye chicken farm and Ganggye pig farm at Jagangdo-province.

*While giving on-the-spot guidance to “Mar. 5 Youth Mine,” Chairman Kim Jung-il expressed satisfaction that the mine had changed to a large-scale mineral production base furnished with modern mining equipment, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on Jan. 30.

*The Central Broadcasting Station reported on Jan. 31 that the 55 th plenary session of “North Korean Agricultural Workers Union” Central Committee took place in Pyongyang on Jan. 30.

*Kim Jung-il inspected the headquarters of KPA combined unit No. 375, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on Feb. 1.

*The 37 th plenary session of “Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League” Central Committee was held on Jan. 29, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on Jan. 31.

*After presenting “Realization of modernization based on high technology” in joint New Year’s editorial as the basic direction of establishing an economic power, North Korea , through various media, intensively covered in January the cases in which technologies were applied to production.

*According to China ’s Customs Statistics, the total trade volume between China and North Korea in 2007 posted 1.97 billion dollars, up 16.2% from 1.7 billion dollars of the previous year.

Inter-Korean Affairs

*Chosun Sinbo, in its article on Jan. 28 titled “The flow of reunification that cannot be blocked,” indirectly expressed concerns over the new South Korean government’s policy on North Korea including the proposal to abolish the Unification Ministry, calling for the constant development of inter-Korean relations in a roundabout way such as implementation of Oct. 4 Declaration.

Foreign Affairs

* North Korea ’s state-run media including Rodong Sinmun have constantly denounced the U.S’s attempts to have South Korea join in PSI and its nuclear threats toward North Korea .

*Rodong Sinmun, through its commentary on Jan. 29 titled “Rigorous political terrorist activity,” maintained that Japan’s suppression of Jochongryun was the product of its hostile policy toward North Korea, criticizing that Japan focused on the cooperation with the U.S. and South Korea to put pressure on North Korea.

*Democratic Chosun, the North Korean cabinet newspaper, in its commentary on Jan. 30 titled “Is it really due to security instability?” criticized that Japan’s plans to build MD was aimed at preemptive attack against its neighboring countries.

*The Central Broadcasting Station reported that Kim Jung-il met and had a luncheon on Jan. 30 with the delegation of Chinese Ministry of International Department headed by Wang Jiarui.

*Korean Central News Agency, through a lengthy bill of indictment, criticized on Jan. 31 that the relations between North Korea and Japan cannot be improved unless Japan resolved the kidnapping issue.

*Chosun Sinbo, through its commentary on Feb. 2 titled “the U.S. ’s conflicting arguments and the silence of the President,” urged the U.S. to implement the agreement of the six-party talks.