1. Domestic Affairs
o Central Broadcasting Station reported that Chairman Kim Jong-Il
congratulated workers in the fields of science and research for their exemplary
achievements. (July 25)
- Among those Kim praised were the February 17
Scientists and Technicians, scientists of the Academy of Sciences, Light
Industry Branch Institute and Food Research Center, as well as employees of
Veterinery Center in Sunchon City.
o Various event took place to
commemorate the 49th anniversary of the victory in the fatherland liberation war
(July 27), including research and discussion forums organized by the Korea
People's Army and meetings to resolve allegiance among servicemen and officers.
o The Baekdusan Architectural Research Institute held a briefing
session to celebrate its 20th anniversary. (July 22)
- The event was attended by Ri
Bong-Su, Director of the Central Committee of the Korea Worker's Party, and
architects, researchers and employees in the fields of architecture. Ri conveyed
the congratulatory message of the Central Committee of the Party.
o Central Television reported on July 21 that the April 15
Literature Creation Troupe had published a long novel on military-first politics
titled Holding Guns and Bayonets.
o Central Television reported on July 20 that the opening of
railways in the Samchong-Kobi section of Pyongyang City would allow for the
delivery of greater amounts of coal to construction sites. 2. South Korean Relations
o
Kim Ryong-Song, the chief of the North Korean
delegation to the Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks, sent a telehpone message to
the South on July 25 expressing regret for the Yellow Sea clash and proposing
working-level meetings to prepare for the seventh round of Inter-Korean
Ministerial Talks to be held in Seoul.
- He described the clash as
accidental and proposed joint efforts to prevent a recurrence of such
incident.
o Unification movement groups
of the South and the North adopted an agreement with regards to the Unification
Events to mark August 15 National Liberation Day. (July 23).
- Key points
of the agreement include: dispatch of a North Korean delegation to Seoul;
holding of events for two days from 15 to 16; use of a direct aviation route by
the North delegation to travel to Seoul for a visit from August 14 to 17;
provision of all necessary conveniences to the North side; active support for
the successful implementation of the South-North Youth and Student Unification
Convention (to be held in early September) and South-North Women's Unification
Convention (scheduled for mid-September).
3. External affairs
o A
spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said that the DRPK was
willing to reopen dialogue with the United States and Japan.
- "DPRK-Japan
foreign ministerial talks will be held during the ASEAN Regional Forum
meetings."(Central Broadcasting Station & Pyongyang Broadcasting Station,
July 25)
- "If the U.S. sends a special envoy, we will respond from our
consistent position."(Central Broadcasting Station & Pyongyang Broadcasting
Station, July 26)
Also, with regards to the
return of the kidnapped fishermen of the Yodoho fishing boat, a spokesperson for
the North Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement denying North Korea's
involvement in the incident. (July 26)
o On the occasion of a
half-century anniversary of the Armistice Agreement, a spokesperson for the
North Korean Foreign Ministry argued for the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed
in Korea and the dissolution of the U.N. Command. (July 24)
o In a commentary the Central Broadcasting Station assailed the
forced appointment of Japanese as the chief directors of the three newly
established credit unions of the Jochongryon in Kingki, Japan. (July 23)
-
"On the pretext of an injection of public funds, Japan made the unjust action of
forcefully pulling out Korean compatriots elected as chief directors and
replaced them with Japanese people.
o According to Central Broadcasting Station, Choe Taek-San was
appointed as the new Ambassador to Italy in a decree of the Supreme People's
Assembly Presidium. (July 24) |
