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North Korea Weekly (March 24-30, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On March 24, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun issued an editorial in which it stated that Kim Jeong-il, Chair of the DPRK National Defence Commission, had emphasized that [North Koreans] “should produce and build more and better things in all divisions and units of the people’s economy with all available efforts, equipment and materials by creating what we do not have and sourcing what we lack with the spirit and vivacity of the post-war days when the grand Chollima* movement peaked.” The newspaper urged, “[North Koreans] should pursue a powerful battle to advance technology and normalize production for the people’s economy with the banner of self-rehabilitation based on science and technology hoisted high.”* A mythical horse that can run 4,000 km a day

o On March 25, the Chosun Sinbo, or “The People’s Korea,” the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), said, “North Korea is planning to provide English and computer education to those in the third grade of elementary school and above throughout the country from September this year. To date English and computer education has been offered as of first year of middle school.” The Chongryon organ added, “When it comes to English education, students will learn about 30 English words per lesson, while for computer education, students will study basic theory, producing a time schedule, and reproducing music using the computer.”

【Outside North Korea】

o On March 24, regarding the movement to boycott the Beijing Olympic Games in response to China’s armed crackdown on Tibetan demonstrators, the North’s Rodong Sinmun criticized that the movement is “an attempt by forces trying to attain an impure goal by making a political issue out of the Beijing Olympic Games.”

o On March 25, Rodong Sinmun alleged, “The US is beefing up its Missile Defence (MD), using the excuse of the so-called North Korean threat,” adding, “If the South Korean military authority joins the US’s MD, the US will have created a pre-emptive missile strike system in response to any possible North Korean nuclear attack that covers the northern portion of the republic and the entire Northeast Asian region with the three pillars of South Korea, the US and Japan.” The newspaper went on to argue, “If this were to be the case, it is crystal-clear that this would be an unforgivable sin of bringing the disaster of nuclear war down on the head of the nation in concert with foreign forces.”

o On March 26, Rodong Sinmun lashed out at Japan by stating, “Japan has recently been advancing the public opinion that without progress in the nuclear and kidnapping issues, sanctions against North Korea should not be lifted and spreading the rumor that anti-DPRK sanctions will remain effective. This is a rash act to put the brakes on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.” The newspaper contended, “The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is based on trust among the relevant countries. Should any party create an artificial obstacle to the talks or commit an offensive act against any other party, there can be no progress in the process of denuclearizing the peninsula.”

o On March 26, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “On March 25, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong-nam, who is visiting Angola, toured the construction site of the Agostinho Neto Center of Culture that is being built with aid from North Korea. He was accompanied by DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun and DPRK Ambassador to Angola Ri Won-son.” The KCNA added, “On the same day, the two countries produced a joint document regarding President Kim Yong-nam’s visit that was signed by DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun and Angolan Ambassador to the DPRK Joao Manuel Bernardo.”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On March 27, North Korean cabinet organ Minju Joson claimed, “In South Korea, in the aftermath of the change in power, maneuvers to instigate an invasion of North Korea are underway in a more outright manner, creating a perilous, touch-and-go environment on the Korean peninsula with any new war—any nuclear war—a possibility.” The cabinet organ also threatened, “The conservative ruling camp of South Korea needs to consider the possible outcome of aggravating North-South Korean relations and increasing the risk of war and behave sensibly.”