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North Korea Weekly (October 27-November 2, 2008)

ROK National Intelligence Service

【Inside North Korea】

o In an October 27 editorial titled “Patriotism Rests in the Path to Self-reliant Rehabilitation,” Rodong Shinmun said, “We must unflinchingly abide by the principle of self-reliant rehabilitation in order to safeguard the sovereignty and dignity of the country and its people and intensely promote revolution and construction.” It underlined, “If we [North Korea] had not enduringly adhered to the principles of economic independence and self-defense, we could not have protected ourselves in a harsh ordeal such as the ‘arduous march’ and could not have joined the ranks of strong nations.”

o On October 29, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported, “It is a pity that Comrade Park Sung-cheol, a member of the politburo of the North Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee and honorary vice chair of the Supreme People’s Assembly Standing Committee, died at five o’clock on October 28 of the 97th year of Juche (2008) at the age of 95 after a long bout of illness.” It went on to say, “Comrade Park Sung-cheol was a loyal revolutionary warrior who dedicated his whole life to the achievement of national and class liberation under the guidance of Comrade Kim Il-sung.”

【Outside North Korea】

o On October 26, the Pyongyang Broadcasting Service said, “Our [the North Korean] representative to the United Nations made a speech in a meeting of the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly.” It reported, “He said that regrettably telecommunication technologies and devices designed to promote co-prosperity of the human race are still being used for impure political purposes and that one major example is America’s Radio Free Asia targeting many Asian nations, including us [North Korea].”

【Inter-Korean Issues】

o On October 28, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, “The South Korean puppet government, which is viciously slandering the revolutionary leadership, is continuously dispersing leaflets and intentionally spreading rumors of the possible collapse of and a coup d’état against our [the North Korean] regime and enthusiastically preparing to carry out preemptive strikes.” Citing statements by a spokesperson for the North Korean delegation to inter-Korean military talks, the KCNA threatened, “If the South Korean puppet government continues to disseminate leaflets and devise a plot to concoct public opinion, our [the North Korean] military will take resolute action against it. We will also respond to preemptive strikes formally declared by South Korean puppet warmongers with stronger North Korean-style preemptive attacks.”

o On October 31, Rodong Sinmun said, “We [North Korea] will never condone and will take stronger actions against anti-nationalistic maneuvers by the South Korean government, which refuses to implement the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Declaration and fuels inter-Korean confrontation.” It alleged, “South Korea is arrogantly and rudely disparaging our equitable position, using such terms as ‘threats’ or ‘regrets.’ It is also quibbling about its anti-nationalist policies toward North Korea based on their glorification.”