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North Korea Weekly (June 23-29, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On June 23, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “The opening ceremony for the 6th Pyongyang International Science and Technology Book Fair took place in the Three Revolution Exhibition Hall. It was attended by Secretary Choe Thae-bok of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party [of North Korea], representatives from the fields of education and publishing, scientists and ambassadors from foreign countries.” The KCNA added, “Acting chair of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae-chol, who heads the book fair’s organizing committee, emphasized that this book fair would help build understanding and trust, as well as friendship and cooperation, among countries and nations.”

o On June 23, the North’s Rodong Sinmun alleged, “Today, the anti-DPRK, confrontational maneuvers of the imperialist US and its South Korean puppets are heightening tensions nationwide and posing plenty of obstacles to the construction of a socialist [nation],” and urged, “The power of uniting with one heart and of independent national defense will further solidify the more [we] strengthen [our] ideological work.” The newspaper went on to claim, “The five great revolutionary plays have provided valuable ideological nourishment that no other masterpiece in the world could offer to Korea’s revolutionaries generation after generation,” adding, “Youths of the new generation, following in the footsteps of preceding generations of the revolution, should hold fast to and add luster to our ideologies, our feats and our institutions until the end.”

o On June 25, the Chosun Sinbo, or the People’s Korea, the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), said, “Ryuwon Footwear Factory in Pyongyang has developed new sports shoes for the elderly that are lighter than previous models.” The newspaper also explained that these shoes, dubbed “well-being sports shoes,” use a new type of sole called the EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) sole, while the factory used to use thermoplastic elastomers for soles.”

o On June 25, the North Korean Central TV (KCTV) reported, “With Chair of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Choe Tae-bok, Secretary of the WPK Central Committee Kim Ki-nam, Secretary General of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Choe Yong-rim, and Vice Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Ro Tu-chol in attendance, a public rally of the city of Pyongyang took place at Pyongyang Stadium to mark the Day of Struggle Against the US Imperialists.”

o On June 26, the Chosun Sinbo, or the People’s Korea, said, “Over 100 boxers from eight groups, including the April 25 Sports Group, the Pyongyang City Sports Group, the Mt. Myohyang Sports Group, the Mt. Paekma Sports Group and Kim Chol Ju University Education Sports Group, competed for 14 titles at the Bochonbo Torch Cup second-tier women’s boxing matches held at Pyongyang Stadium June 17–22. Worthy of special note is that new faces with one or two years of experience in boxing garnered good results.” The newspaper mentioned that Park Eun-hyang (aged 17) from the April 25 Sports Group and Kim Eun-sil (aged 17) from the Mt. Myohyang Sports Group in particular grabbed special attention, adding that they started boxing only two years ago.

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On June 22, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun claimed, “As the belligerent South Korean government is mired in an indiscriminate militarily confrontational commotion, the atmosphere for national reconciliation and unity is being destroyed and inter-Korean relations, which were headed in the right direction, are facing the worst crisis since the June 15 [Joint Declaration].” The newspaper also asserted that the ○○○ government is beefing up its military power, upholding the principle of ‘military predominance,’ and declared, “It is no different from the argument [that South Korea should] invade North Korea that the puppet leaderships [of South Korea] spouted during the past era of confrontation out of their hostile view of their brothers and sisters [in North Korea] as the main enemy, rather than pursuing reconciliation and unity with them.”

o On June 24, Rodong Sinmun insisted, “The comic book titled The Truth about the Korean War disseminated by extreme rightist group KorVa (the Korea Veterans’ Association) is extremely reactionary propaganda. What is truly unacceptable [about the comic book] is the fact that it makes the vicious, false claim that the inter-Korean cooperation projects of the June 15 reunification era are exploited in the interest of maintaining the North Korean regime. The distribution of a comic book that instigates national confrontation is not only an unacceptable provocation of us [North Korea], but also a crime against the nation that impedes national reconciliation and unity and encourages inter-Korean confrontation and war.”

o On June 26, Rodong Sinmun emphasized, “The June 15 Joint Declaration is a milestone on the road toward national independence and unification and the most valid principle for the reunification of the fatherland that drives the battle for the Korean nation’s independent pioneering of its destiny.” The newspaper contended, “Upholding and realizing the June 15 Joint Declaration is the route to victory in achieving the great feat of independence and unification and promises a bright future of national peace and prosperity,” and urged, “All Koreans at home and abroad should not slacken today’s pace in the slightest, but fight a more powerful fight to realize the June 15 Joint Declaration.”