North Korea Weekly (Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2008)
ROK National Intelligence Service
【Inside North Korea】
o On January 28, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “The General Federation of Trade Unions of [North] Korea (GFTUK) held its 60th plenary session in Pyongyang, with GFTUK chair Kim Pyong-phal in attendance.” The KCNA reported, “Discussed at the plenary session were what GFTUK members should strive for the thorough performance of the initiatives set forth in this year’s joint editorial.”
o On January 29, the North’s Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, “Teachers and students of the Computer Best Brains Training Centers developed and unveiled over 160 valuable computer programs from Juche 91 (AD 2002) through last year.” The KCBS added, “Teachers are pressing ahead with the computer education project for young children and thereby accomplishing a new feat in this field, fully committed to producing more able computer experts and engineers who will play a part in the building of a powerful nation.”
o On January 30, the KCBS said, “On the occasion of Kim Jeong-il’s birthday in 1988, the immortal flower Kimjeongilhwa, or Kim Jeong-il Flower, was born.” The KCBS propagandized, “The flower’s spread around the world entered a new phase in the mid-1990s, with the formation of the North European Kim Jeong-il Flower Society in Sweden in 1995.”
o On January 31, the KCNA said, “The Central Committee of the Korean General Federation of Science and Technology is planning to host scores of science and technology presentations and exhibitions this year.” The KCNA also reported, “Area-by-area technology presentations will be taking place nationwide in such basic industrial areas as power, metals and railways. In addition, to mark the 60th anniversary of Kim Chaek University of Technology and Wonsan University of Agriculture, presentations in the fields of science education and agricultural science education are also being pursued across the country, pushing the number of science and technology presentation sessions over 40.”
【Outside North Korea】
o On January 28, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) insisted, “The undisputable trend in the international community regarding the resolution of the nuclear issue is taking such approaches as dialogue and negotiation. The six-party talks can never be allowed to enjoy an easy ride on the back of the Helsinki Process.” The KCNA criticized the US special envoy for North Korean human rights’ recommendation to “tie the issue of North Korean human rights to the improvement of relations with North Korea.”
o On January 29, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) stated, “This year’s New Year joint editorial suggested that we should eliminate the root cause of war and build solid peace,” and insisted, “Nevertheless, the imperialist US publicly announced that nuclear weapons had been brought into South Korea in January 1958. In every corner of South Korea, nuclear weapons storehouses have been built and fighter planes deployed.” The KCBS urged, “The US imperialists should not forget their bitter, crushing defeat of the past. Rather, they should immediately withdraw with their nuclear weapons.”
o On January 30, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) reported, “Kim Jeong-il held a reception for a delegation of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, led by department head Wang Jiarui, that was visiting our country [North Korea].”
o On January 31, the KCNA blasted Japan, saying, “Japan’s turning a blind eye to the issue of so-called comfort women [or sex slaves during World War II] and at the same time once again crying out about the kidnapping issue indicates its veiled motive to avoid having to come clean [with humility and apologies] about its past [crimes during World War II]. The media outlet emphasized, “While Japan has been calling on its allies, asserting that it will reach a package deal regarding the kidnapping and nuclear issues by solidifying the ties between Japan, the US and South Korea, there can be no progress in North Korea-Japan relations so long as Japan remains mired by the kidnapping issue as if it were its lifeblood.”
【Inter-Korean Issues】
o On February 3, North Korea’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) published an article titled “Anything Is Possible If We Koreans Join Forces Uriminzokkiri, or ‘by Our Nation Itself’" in which it declared, “It is our nation that is responsible for the reunification of our fatherland. Depending on foreign forces will not resolve the issue of reunification forever.” The PBS stressed, “Foreign forces are dividing forces that do not want to see our nation reunited, and are a cancer-like entity to the path toward reunification.”
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