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North Korea Weekly (February 4-10, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On February 3, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun said, “Since the old days, we Koreans have had a custom of cooking special dishes and enjoying a variety of events on days of significance in terms of production activities or lifestyle throughout the year.” The newspaper described the Korean nation’s unique customs for marking Seol: “Among the special days, Seol, or the Lunar New Year’s Day, is the greatest and most joyous holiday, celebrated with charye (a ceremony to remember and thank ancestors), sebae (bowing to elders, wishing them blessings and receiving blessings in return), and traditional foods and folk games typical of Seol.”

o On February 4, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, “Upholding the statement in this year’s New Year joint editorial that science and technology are essential for building a powerful economy, as well as embodying extraordinary commitment and determination, scientists and engineers are actively engaged in scientific research activities.” The KCBS reported, “Those at the DPRK Academy of Sciences are also hoping to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK with further scientific research feats.”

o On February 7, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “The Asian region’s third qualifying round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicked off,” adding, “In the first leg between North Korea and Jordan, which took place in Jordan yesterday, the North Koreans beat the Jordanians one to naught.”

o On February 8, the KCNA said, “Marking the joyous holidays in February, the state issued postage stamps,” adding, “Among the stamps is one bearing the phrase ‘In celebration of the birthday of Comrade Kim Jeong-il on February 16’ with pictures of flowers such as tulips, shepherd’s purse and pheasant’s eye at the bottom.”

【Outside North Korea】

o On February 9, the North’s Rodong Sinmun stated, “Peace on the Korean peninsula is directly tied to world peace.” The newspaper contended, “It is because the imperialist US regards the Korean peninsula, which is surrounded by many powerful nations, as the area it must secure to bring the greatest possible advantage to the US in realizing its military ambition to rule over the Asian continent.”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On February 3, North Korea’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) reported, “On December 28 of last year, a proposal to extend the stationing of South Korean troops in Iraq for the fifth time passed in the National Assembly of South Korea.” The PBS denounced, “Pro-US elements, who are submissive slaves to the core and who believe that alliances with foreign forces should be maintained even if it costs the blood of brothers and sisters, jettisoned the promise that troops would be withdrawn by the end of last year like one might throw away worn-out shoes and accepted the US’s demand to extend the stationing of the troops as was.”

o On February 4, the PBS said, “South Korea’s view of us as its primary enemy is an anti-unification view that sells the country and betrays the nation by placing absolute importance on cooperation with foreign forces and produces distrust between North and South Korea.” The media outlet contended, “Without shaking off the outdated confrontational perspective that sees those who belong to the same nation as enemies, inter-Korean military tensions cannot be eased and stable peace cannot come,” and urged South Korea to “abolish this anachronistic idea about the main enemy.”