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Weekly Report on North Korea No. 906 (August 25 to August 31, 2008)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

North Korea introduced the main theme and meaning of mass gymnastic display “Prosper the Motherland” created in order to the celebrate the 60 th anniversary of founding the DPRK, which had apparently been receiving ravishing praise from the North Korean people.

• Chosun Shinbo , 8.21

North Korea praised the achievements of Kim Jong-il’s military-first leadership by holding the central reporting session on the 48 th anniversary of the inauguration of the military-first leadership at April 25 House of Culture on August 24.

• Central Broadcasting Station, August 25

North Korea reported that it held the ground breaking ceremony of Geomdeok Mining Complex on August 26 to celebrate the successful completion of the expansion construction of ore transportation capability.

• Pyongyang Broadcasting Services, August 27

According to the Customs Department of the Kingdom of Thailand , the total amount of trade between North Korea and Thailand is $53 million in the first half of 2008, which showed a 45.4% decrease.

North Korea publicized its production achievements, saying “The production in the machine industry has grown by 1.2 times from the same period last year thanks to the devotion of those in the industry.

• Central Broadcasting Station, August 28

Inter-Korean Affairs

North Korea criticized the invitation events to which separated families were invited to celebrate the August 15 Independence Day as ‘a ludicrous maneuver.’

• Korean Central News Agency, 8.29

Foreign Affairs

North Korea considered the U.S. ’s suspension to remove North Korea from the state sponsors of terrorism list as a violation of agreement and announced that it would stop disabling its nuclear reactor complex through the declaration of the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and commentaries published in Chosun Shinbo.

North Korea criticized Japan for claiming the sovereignty of Dokdo and maintaining fuel supply of the Japanese Self Defense Forces through commentaries published in Central Broadcasting Station and Rodong Daily.

North Korea continued to criticize Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercises through commentaries published in state media including Rodong Daily and Radio Pyongyang