North Korea Weekly (April 13 - 19, 2009)
ROK National Intelligence Service
[Inside North Korea]
o On April 10, North Korea held celebratory events of the Pyongyang municipal government and the People’s Armed Forces Ministry in connection with reappointing Kim Jong-il as the chairman of the National Defense Commission again (April 9). On April 14, North Korea hosted a central reporting rally at the Pyongyang Gymnasium to celebrate the 97th birthday of Kim Il-sung (April 15).
o On April 15, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, “On April 14, Kim Jong-il watched fireworks on the bank of the Daedong River, Pyongyang on the eve of Kim Il-sung’s 97th birthday, accompanied by high-ranking officials of the party, government, and military.”
[Outside North Korea]
o On April 14, North Korea contended in a statement of its foreign ministry, “The presidential statement by the UN Security Council (April 14) represents acceptance of America’s coercive logic.” The country announced that it "will not participate in the six-party talks and strengthen its nuclear deterrence.”
[Inter-Korean Issues]
o On April 17, Rodong Sinmun argued with regard to the South Korean government’s April 4 recommendation to minimize the number of South Koreans staying in North Korea and exercise self-restraint in visiting North Korea, “It is a criminal act intended to completely break inter-Korean relations.”
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