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North Korea Weekly (Sept. 22-28, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On September 22, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) reported, “The fourth Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair opened in the New Technology Innovation Hall at the Three Revolution Exhibition Center today.” The KCBS added, “The opening ceremony was attended by Cabinet Vice Premier Ro Tu-chol, Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong-nam, Vice Chair of the People’s Committee of Pyongyang City Kim Jong-sik, and Director of the Chamber of Commerce of the DPRK Ri Hak-gwon, among others.”

o On September 23, the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service (PBS) said, “The 11th Pyongyang International Film Festival, which started on September 17, is taking place at the Pyongyang International Cinema House and other theaters in the city.” The PBS also reported, “Daedongmun Theatre has featured the Chinese film House of Flying Daggers, the Italian film, Night Bus, and the British film, Elizabeth I, to name a few.”

o On September 23, the KCBS said, “Officials and workers of Chongdan County pressed forward with a construction project that was launched last year to complete a waterway to irrigate millions of square meters of fields and rice paddies in April this year. They also recently independently built a new waterway to irrigate over one million square meters of rice paddies.” The KCBS also reported, “In South Pyongan Province, the first stage of the construction of a waterway connecting Jamjin and Daebo was completed before the rice planting season, while in Yontan County, North Hwanghae Province, an effort was initiated to build a waterway with natural flows reaching three locations,” adding, “Other provinces have also actively pursued small and medium waterways with natural flows, resulting in scores of such waterways throughout the country.”

o On September 24, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “The [North] Korean Central History Museum is featuring an exhibit of relics from the Koryo dynasty, [which precedes the Joseon dynasty on the Korean peninsula].” It provided some details regarding the items on display, which include over 80 relics found during the excavation of the western group of structures of Manwoldae and the nearby royal palace site, including Koryo porcelain, roof tiles and bricks, plus more than ten pieces the museum has collected. The KCNA then added, “Found in the process of unearthing the western architectural group of Manwoldae were celadon of unfamiliar, unique shapes, and chimi (a type of decorative tile) that reveals the magnificence of the palace architecture of the Koryo dynasty, among other items.”

o On September 25, the PBS said, “Taekkyon, a martial art that emphasizes skills that allow one to kick and topple one’s competitor, is a traditional recreational activity enjoyed by our people and has garnered a reputation as a legitimate martial art of our nation from long ago.” The PBS reported, “During the Joson Dynasty, taekkyon was commonly practiced among the people from childhood.”

【Outside North Korea】

o On September 21, North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun published an editorial titled “Those Attempting to Repeat a History of Crime Are Doomed to Destruction” in which the newspaper said, “Some 133 years ago, imperialist Japan used the Unyo incident to invade Joson,” and then denounced, “Years have passed since it committed the atrocious invasion, but the militant Japanese’s aggressive nature remains all the same.”

o On September 23, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “The commander of the US forces occupying South Korea bragged that the procedure to expand reinforcements on US soil in the event of a crisis on the Korean peninsula would be streamlined,” alleging that the remark was a planned provocation of our republic [the DPRK].” The KCNA further criticized the US, saying, “The US’s bid to preemptively attack the DPRK is an act of betrayal that is in defiance of the September 19 Joint Statement, which promises mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, as well as an assault on peace through by driving the fiery clouds of nuclear war toward the Korean peninsula.”