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North Korea Weekly (May 26-June 1, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On May 26, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, “Throughout the country, construction to build large hydropower plants is briskly underway,” and provided details.

o On May 27, the Chosun Sinbo, or the People's Korea, the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), reported, “The Changgwang restaurant street that stretches to Pyongyang station is one of the most famous restaurant districts in the downtown area, and construction to renovate restaurants on the street is in full swing.”

o On May 28, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim Mun-uk, a section chief of the Central Meteorological Institute, as saying, “While we experienced abnormally high temperatures in mid-April, we are seeing exceptionally low temperatures in May. In regions on the west coast, temperatures are 2.5–3 degrees Celsius lower than average. Worse yet, the northern parts of the country, including North Hamgyong, are experiencing even temperatures below freezing, with ground surface temperatures occasionally dropping to 2–5 degrees Celsius below freezing, leaving some sown land covered with frost.”

o On May 28, the North’s Pyongyang Broadcasting Station (PBS) reported, “The construction of an arts theater in North Hwanghae is about 80% completed,” and added, “Interior plastering is underway, including the hallway, performance halls, and ceilings of the first and second floors, as is the installation of ceiling frames and the attachment of granite panels on the facade and sides of the theater. The construction of ancillary structures is also in its final stages.”

o On May 29, the Chosun Sinbo, the organ of Chongryon, said, “Medical workers are providing health services at fields where rice seedlings are being planted.” The newspaper explained, “From mid-April, provincial, city and district people’s hospitals across the country geared up to provide on-site medical services in a variety of forms and methods.”

o On May 31, the Chosun Sinbo said, “In North Korea, computers will be a regular subject for third graders in elementary schools and above as of September.” The newspaper added, “The DPRK Ministry of Education is training teachers in charge of information education and using pilot schools as examples for them.”

【Outside North Korea】

o On May 27, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun contended, “Japan’s rectification of its past crimes is a pressing historical task that cannot be delayed any longer in light of the demands of the times and the severity of its crimes. It must be held accountable for such massive human rights crimes as its forcing of Korean women into sex slavery, forceful conscription and relocation of civilians, and massacres.

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On May 27, the North’s Rodong Sinmun said, “South Korea is boldly engaging in military provocations on the West Sea,” and insisted, “It should immediately conclude this militarily confrontational commotion.”- The newspaper also repeatedly alleged, “Abiding by the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which is a phantom line drawn illegally and lawlessly and is a vestige of the war to invade Korea [the Korean War] and the era of North-South Korean confrontation, South Korea incessantly commits military provocations on the West Sea based on the boundary, thereby posing a threat to peace and heightening tensions.”