Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

North Korea Weekly (January 5 - 11, 2009)

ROK National Intelligence Service

[Inside North Korea]

o This week, North Korea held a series of ‘public rallies’ to fulfill the New Year’s Joint Editorial in each region including Jagang and Gangwon Province, beginning in Pyongyang on January 5. It also focused heavily on ideological learning at each unit.

o On January 7, the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s state news agency announced, “An election of members of the 12th-term Supreme People’s Assembly will be conducted on March 8 pursuant to Article 90 of the Constitution in accordance with a decision by the SPA Standing Committee’s plenary session on January 6.”

- North Korea organized the central election committee chaired by Yang Hyeong-seop for the purpose of said election. The committee also includes Deputy Chairperson Kim Joong-rin, General Secretary Choi Young-rim, and other members such as Joo Sang-sung.

[Outside North Korea]

o On January 7, the North Korea-Palestine Goodwill and Coalition Committee held a meeting in Pyongyang in support of Palestine in connection with the recent developments in the Gaza Strip. The committee issued a statement urging Israel to ‘stop all military actions.’

o On January 9, a delegation of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Assistant Minister Hu Zhengyue arrived in Pyongyang.