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South-North Relations

Weekly Report on North Korea

본문영역

Weekly Report on North Korea No.

writer
관리자
created
2002-10-17
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13896
Weekly on North Korea

1. Domestic Affairs
- North Korea held a Central Report session and a variety of other events in celebration of the fifth anniversary (October 8) of the installation of Kim Jong-il as general secretary of the Korean Workers' Party. Calls were made for the promotion of innovative economic policies, but no new policy direction was announced.

- Celebrations were held by the General Federation of Trade Unions, the Democratic Women's Union, the Union of Agricultural Peasants, and youth and students of Pyonyang October 3-7. A bronze statue was erected in honor of Kim Il-sung at Guseong Junior High School in North Pyong-an Province on October 7. Also, there was a nightly gathering by the youth vanguard of the People's Armed Forces department. In addition, "a group endearing the General (Kim Jong-il)" was organized by the sports and cheering teams of the Asian Games on October 8.

- It was also reported that the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in Pyongyang visited historical relics and that China sent congratulatory flowers to the party's central committee on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the junior Kim's assumption of the party leadership and the 57th anniversary (October 10) of the founding of the party.

- There were various events to mark the party's founding, but since the date (Oct. 10) was close to that of Kim's ascendancy to the party leadership (Oct. 8), the level of celebrations was modest even as the extolling of the Kims persisted.

- Chairman Kim Jong-il spoke highly of the economic achievements made in potato growing and construction of revolutionary history monuments and recreational facilities. He also conducted an on-site inspection and offered advice in Samjiyeon and Daehongdan counties in Yanggang Province October 7-8.

- At the time of its industrial reorganization in September 2000, North Korea introduced a "joint company" system. Since July, it has called it the "Management Bureau," hinting that follow-up steps are being enforced to improve economic management.

- On the occasion of the general mobilization period every fall for national land management, it said the expansion and double-tracking work was completed on 450 kilometers of road and 29.7 million square meters of land was "readjusted."

2. South Korean Relations
- In connection with the 14th Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea, the North Korean cheering squad presented a performance for Busan citizens on October 8 and extended the courtesy of receiving South Koreans aboard the ship the Mangyeong-92 moored at the port.

- North Korea reported the activities of a delegation from South Korea, including its visit to the revolutionary relics in Mt. Baekdu and Milyoung. The members of the South's Catholic Priests' Association for Justice were visiting North Korea between October 2-9 to monitor the aid they sent to North Korea.

- North Korea denounced as "slander for presidential electioneering" reports of "clandestine support of $400 million" to North Korea, which the South Korean opposition party, the Grand National Party, has claimed.

3. External Affairs
- North Korea complained that the United States was pursuing a hard-line policy when it expressed dissatisfaction over the results of a US envoy's recent visit to Pyongyang.

- The North also issued a statement denouncing the envoy for raising religious issues with North Korea and for a report the US State Department issued recently on religious freedom in North Korea. The statement was issued on October 10 in the name of the spokesman for the Joseon (North Korean) Religious Council.

- It reported on October 10 that a "government-to-government conference" aimed at normalizing relations with Japan will be held soon and its party newspaper, the Rodong Shinmun, expressed hope for an early normalization of relations and friendly ties between North Korea and Japan.

- North Korea expressed during the 57th U.N. General Assembly that it endorses economic support for developing countries by developed countries but opposes unilateral anti-terrorism activity without the involvement of the world body.

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