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Weekly Report on North Korea No. 931 (February 16 to February 22 2009)

ROK Ministry of Unification

Internal Affairs

• In celebration of Kim Jong-il’s birthday that falls on February 16, Rodong Sinmun published an editorial titled “Let’s stand strong for a bright future of rich and powerful nation under the guidance of the great Labor Party”; and Central Broadcasting Station broadcasted Kim Jong-il’s commentary on January 14, 1996, titled “Let’s Live for Tomorrow, Not for Today.”

• According to North Korean media reports from February 16 to 22, Kim Jong-il made three public appearances which include attending at a performance of a military unit and two times of on-site guidance at industrial complexes.

• A central reporting convention was held in tandem with the 35 th anniversary of the announcement of the ‘Platform for Spreading Juche Doctrine across the Whole Society’ that falls on February 18.
• Central Broadcasting Station, February 18

• Chairman Kim announced in an open letter that he would sign up for running as a nominee of the assembly elections of the Supreme People’s Assembly at the 333 rd district (Korean Central News Agency, February 18). In response, the constituencies of the 333 rd district rallied in resolution (Central Broadcasting Station, February 18).

• North Korean media reported, “Fashion fever is swirling around the citizens in the wake of the upcoming assembly elections of the Supreme People’s Assembly on March 8.”
• Chosun Shinbo , February 21

Inter-Korean Affairs

• In the form of ‘a press conference of the Spokesperson for the Chief of Staff of the People’s Army on February 18, North Korea warned not to forget that it was ready for a full-round of confrontation.
• Korean Central News Agency, February 19

• In a commentary by the Spokesperson for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, the DPRK criticized that President Lee Myung-bak slandered and debased the socialist system.
• Korean Central News Agency, February 21

Foreign Affairs

• North Korea criticized the U.S. military movement such as forming U.S.-ROK joint strategy and deploying F-22 fighters as attempts to provoke a war against North Korea for achieving military hegemony.

• In a commentary published in Korean Central News Agency on February 16, North Korea uttered grievances about the criticisms which is aroused against its preparation for launching a long-range missile in the U.S. and South Korea, calling such criticisms debasement and provocation.

• The DPRK made a strong criticism against Japan ’s attempts to dispatch Maritime Self Defense Forces to Somalia and to be listed as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.