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North Korea Weekly (October 20-26, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o On October 19, the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service propagandized that "doctors and nurses in the dental department of the People’s Hospital in Deokcheon are dedicating themselves to promoting public health, giving a boost to the superiority of our (North Korean) health care system." It also said that "medical workers in the department are making a proactive effort to consolidate its material and technological foundation, while improving preventive practices and treatment and practically bettering their professionalism.”

o On October 20, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) said, "Farming villages in South Pyeongan Province were the first to complete the rice harvest this year. Mundeok County enthusiastically mobilized people to take the initiative in rice sheave transportation and rice hulling." It added, "Workers in North Pyeongan Province and South Hwanghae Province entered the final stage of rice farming following rice reaping in compliance with the general’s message that the basic revolutionary task assigned to farmers is engaging in successful agricultural activities.”

o On October 22, the North Korean Central News Agency reported, "The farmers’ dance, originally a dance and play for men only dating back to the practice of singing and dancing in the course of labor and other daily activities during primitive and ancient times, became a popular folk art in various forms during medieval and modern times. As such, the farmers’ dance is full of vigor and valor." It also said, "Sangmodoligi (dancing with a traditional Korean hat that has a long tassel) is unique to the Korean farmers’ dance. A dancer performs a trick in which he spins his head like a pinwheel with pheasant feathers or a long piece of white paper attached to the top of a hat."

【Outside North Korea】

o On October 21, the KCBS reported "North Korean Foreign Minister Park Eui-chun met with Marco Hausiku, foreign minister and head of a government delegation from the Republic of Namibia, at Mansudae Hall." It went on to say, "During the talks, the two sides exchanged opinions on matters of mutual interest in order to promote friendship and cooperation between the two nations."

o On October 22, Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial titled “A Malicious Slanderer Who is No Longer Entitled to Participate in the Talks” that “Recently, Japan has been behaving in a shameful manner, saying that without any progress in the resolution of the kidnapping issue it will not fulfill its obligation of economic compensation as agreed upon by the six parties.” It lashed out at Japan, arguing that "If Japan continues to misbehave, it can be barred from the site of the six-party talks by incurring hatred and ostracism on the part of the other parties.”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On October 23, the KCBS criticized, “The South Korean government is acting blindly against the will and wishes of the entire Korean people, which has resulted in the successive discontinuation of inter-Korean cooperation projects.” It asserted, “The South Korean government viciously spurred a rabble of people pretending to be private citizens to spread leaflets and plot against North Korea. As evident proof that the South Korean government is against the unification of the peninsula, such an act is a flagrant deed that blocks progress in ushering in an era of unification in line with the spirit of the June 15 declaration and merely serves to foster distrust and confrontation between the two Koreas.”