1. Domestic Affairs
The country was swept by rallies condemning the United States on
the occasion of "June 25, the day of struggle against the U.S. imperialists."
"The U.S. imperialists and South Korean anti-reunification forces are driving
the country into danger through anti-North Korean provocation and plots,"
speakers said at a rally in Pyongyang on June 25. "All the party members,
soldiers of the Korea People's Army and civilian residents should support
Comrade Kim Jong-il's military-first politics and build an invincible fortress
of their fatherland, "Rodong Sinmun, a party newspaper, argued in an editorial
on June 25.
Central Broadcasting and Central TV stations
reported June 23 that authorities would continue to hold a mass gymanstics
display entitled "Arirang" until mid-July. "The performance was originally
scheduled to run for two months from April 29 to June 29, but we decided to
prolong the event until July 15, " North Korea's general bureau on state tourism
announced June 20. "We welcome South Koreans to the show."
North Korean kept up its efforts to ease the
shortages of electricity, food, clothes and housing. Ri Myong-su Power Plant
No.6 has begun a trial operation, Central TV Station reported June 25.
Construction was scheduled to build 200 housing units in Hoeryong City, and 300
units in Ewon County, according to Central Broadcasting Station June 25. Sheep
and goat farms were built in Pyongsan County, and a duck farm in Suan County,
news media reported June 24.
Central TV Station aired edited versions of
matches in the 16-team knockout stage and quarterfinals of Korean/Japan World
Cup Soccer Championships on June 23 and 27. It commented on the South Korean
team rather objectively.
2. South Korean Relations
North Korean made personal attacks on the South Korean main
opposition party's presidential candidate after the party scored a landslide
victory in the June 13 elections of governors, mayors and councilors. "There is
no doubt the June 15 South and North Joint Declaration would face more obstacles
after the elections, so South Koreans are trying to put him out of the political
scene," Central Broadcasting Station said June 27.On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the adoption
of North Korea's five principles on the national reunification, Pyongyang
Broadcasting Station reported June 23 that the late leader Kim ll-sung's call
for self-reliance and peaceful reunification was reflected in the June 15 South
and North Joint Declaration.
North Korea called an exchange of file between North and
South Korean naval patrol vessels on the West Sea on June 29 "a planned military
provocation by the South Korean military authorities" and imputed a
responsibility to South Korean for hostilities, Central Broadcasting Station
reported June 29.
3. External affairs
A North Korean chief delegate made a speech at the 56th U.N.
Assembly, on June 18, Central Broadcasting Station reported June 26. "The
international community should encourage developing countries to get more
involved in information technology projects and therefore enhance their IT
capabilities as soon as possible," he said.
Pyongyang members of the General Federation of Trade
Unions and delegates from the Tokyo Peace Movement Center issued a joint
statement shortly after their meeting on June 26, "We support the June 15 South
and North Joint Declaration and demand the U.S. troops' withdrawal from South
Korea," the statement said.
On June 26 Rodong Sinmun carried a commentary
highlighting an incident in which a U.S. military vehicle ran over two South
Korean middle school girls to death on June 13. It called on South Koreans to
drive out U.S. imperialist invaders, agitating an anti-American
sentiment. |
