Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

North Korea Weekly (April 27 - May 3, 2009)

ROK National Intelligence Service

[Inside North Korea]

o In a report by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (April 26 to 27), North Korea said that Kim Jong-il visited Military Unit 851, watched a celebratory performance by a meritorious national choir, and toured the site of urban construction at Wonsan on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the People’s Army.

o On April 30, North Korea held a central reporting rally in Pyongyang marking the 119th anniversary of Workers’ Day. In a KCNA report (May 2), the country said, "Kim Jong-il watched a performance by a meritorious national choir and a revolutionary opera titled ‘Flower-Selling Girl.’”

[Outside North Korea]

o In a statement issued by the spokesperson of its Foreign Ministry, North Korea, in connection with the UN Security Council’s decision on a target list, requested its apology and retraction of the decision. North Korea threatened on April 29 that if the Security Council fails to comply with the request, the country would commence uranium enrichment and test-launch an ICBM. On May 1, it also contended, “deletion of the provision on the six-party talks in the Non-Aligned Movement’s final document represents support for us (North Korea).”