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North Korea Weekly (March 10-16, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On March 10, North Korea’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) said, “A national meeting to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Peasants’ Union created and led by Comrade Kim Il-seong took place at the Central Workers’ Hall today.” The PBS added, “The meeting was attended by Comrade Yang Hyong-sop, Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly; Comrade Kim Jung-rin, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of [North] Korea; Vice-Premier of the Cabinet Ro Tu-chol; and high ranking officials from a range of workers’ groups, among others.”

o On March 11, North Korea’s Central TV reported, “A press conference was held concerning the Pyongyang torch relay event for the 29th Olympic Games,” adding that during the press conference, “Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Xiaoming said he was confident that the Olympic Games torch relay event, which symbolizes peace, friendship and hope, would help further advance the historically friendly relationship between the DPRK and China and boost exchanges and cooperation in a range of areas between the two countries, including sports and culture.”

o On March 12, Central TV said, “The second stage of construction to beautify the shores of Daedong River is underway, which involves the lowering of the bank between Pyongyang Grand Theater and the Bridge of Loyalty and the creation of a resting place.” The media outlet also said, “Officials and workers of agencies and companies located in the city who have been mobilized for the construction project are making aggressive efforts to transform Daedong River into an even greater river of paradise overflowing with the happiness of the people.”

o On March 13, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, “A constant and abundant stream of visitors are flowing to the Migok Revolutionary Museum, which exhibits the immortal leadership of the unparalleled great people who devoted indefatigable efforts to uphold socialist principles in agricultural issues for them to fully blossom in the land of Migok, and the Migok Co-op Farm in Sariwon City, which has been remarkably improved with the kind helping hand of the party.” The KCBS propagandized, “Over the past year or so alone, the number of workers, overseas Koreans and foreigners who visited the site surpassed 130,000, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh.

【Outside North Korea】

o On March 11, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “It is reported that the US, Japan and South Korea launched the fourth [meeting of the] Security Research Council in which they decided to form something resembling a three-nation coordinating committee that is a mechanism for military cooperation.” The KCNA voiced, “This is plain evidence that the three-pronged military alliance they have long pursued has reached new heights and is getting stronger.”

o On March 12, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) said, “The US, which drove the Korean peninsula to the brink of war last year by frantically conducting the RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration) and UFL (Ulchi Focus Lens) exercises, renamed those exercises Key Resolve and Ulchi-Freedom Guardian this year and is carrying out drills throughout South Korea from this March on.” The PBS criticized, “Such risky and war-provoking maneuvers stem solely from the US’s anti-DPRK policy.”

o On March 15, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, “Comrade Kim Jeong-il sent enthusiastic congratulations regarding Comrade Hu Jintao’s re-election [as president of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission] at the first meeting of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC) of the People’s Republic of China.” The KCBS elaborated, “The congratulatory letter read, ‘cherishing as well as ceaselessly solidifying and developing the DPRK-China friendship is the unchanging stance of our party [the WPK] and our government [the North Korean government].’”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On March 10, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) stated, “Today Koreans in North and South Korea and foreign land yearn to transform the North-South relationship into a solid uriminzokkiri (or intra-nation) relationship and create a new history of peace and prosperity by thoroughly implementing the October 4 Declaration.” The KCBS emphasized, “As presented in this year’s joint New Year editorial, the October 4 Declaration aimed at the development of North-South Korean relations and peace and prosperity is an inspiring banner that encourages and drives the nation’s independent development and unification.”

o On March 13, the North’s Central TV said, “Results of investigations by South Korea’s Presidential Commission on Suspicious Deaths in the Military indicate that violence and serious human rights violations against soldiers are currently commonplace in the South Korean army.” Central TV quoted the bereaved as saying, “As cruel violence continues to cause unjustifiable deaths in the military even now, the authority should clearly ascertain the facts regarding suspicious deaths.”