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Weekly on North Korea No. 878 (Feb. 4- Feb. 17, 2008)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

*The Central Broadcasting Station reported on Feb. 3 that workers from many sectors of national economy, who are making an all-out effort to build an economic powerhouse, have achieved great results in January.

*Yeo Chun-seok, General of People’s Army, was confirmed to have been appointed as the president of Kim Il Sung National War College , according to the Central Broadcasting Station on Feb. 4.

*Chosun Sinbo reported on Feb. 10, through the first report of its serial titled “Korean People’s lives-first policy,” that North Korean instant ramen would be widely provided to the people starting this year.

* North Korea held a central reporting session to commemorate the 20 th anniversary of naming Kimjongilia, with cadres of the party in attendance, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on Feb. 12.

*The Central Broadcasting Station confirmed on Feb. 12 that Park Hak-seon replaced Mun Je-deok as North Korea ’s Sports Guidance Commission.

*Indignation meetings were held at Ganggye pig farm and Janggang-gun province from Feb. 13 to Feb. 14 to demand on-the-spot guidance of Chairman Kim Jong-il, reported the Central Broadcasting Station on Feb. 14.

*The Central Broadcasting Station reported on Feb. 15 that Chairman Kim Jong-il inspected the First and the Fourth battalions under KPA 776.

*In 2007, North Korea ’s trade volume with Japan and Thailand declined 92% and 40%, respectively, compared with a year before.

Inter-Korean Affairs

*North Korea denounced “Key Resolve” U.S.-ROK joint military exercises as “war training for the invasion of North Korea” through the statement of spokesperson of “Korean National Peace Committee” (Feb. 6) D article from the Tongil Sinbo (Feb. 2) and D report from the Central Broadcasting Station (Feb. 7).

Foreign Affairs

* North Korea criticized from Feb. 4 through Feb. 12 that Japan schemed to turn into a military power and disturbed six-party talks through diverse events including dispatching Self-Defense Forces abroad, triangle cooperation between South Korea, U.S., and Japan, and comfort woman issue.

* North Korea ’s state-run media, including Rodong Sinmun, have constantly criticized the U.S. ’ psychological warfare and its hostile policies against North Korea , and its accusation of counterfeiting money against North Korea .

*The Central Broadcasting Station reported that “Cultural Exchange Plan from 2008 to 2010” between North Korean and Cuban governments was signed at People’s Palace of Culture on Feb. 12.

* North Korea , through a statement of the spokesperson of DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, denounced U.S. troops’ presence in Korea and the joint South Korea-U.S. military drills after the transfer of wartime operational control rights.