1.
1. Domestic Affairs
-North Korea underscored the need for it to develop a wood processing industry
and to better create and preserve forests at the "Meeting of Enthusiasts
in Forestry Industry." It also publicized progress made in recent land
adjustment work in Nampo in Pyeongannam-do Province.
In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the publication of a laborious
work on an "Alternative Business System," the late leader Kim Il-sung
was lauded. The North also emphasized the need of improving economic management
systems from a new, reform-minded perspective to better fit in with the present
economic environment.
The annual winter march for college students and younger boys from various
parts of North Korea to visit revolutionary battlefields at Mt. Baekdu was launched
in order to inspire ideological readiness and loyalty.
Seizing on the tense atmosphere surrounding the nuclear issue, the Rodong
Sinmun sought to justify the causes of Kim Jong-il's military-first policy and
the "hardship march" and repeatedly emphasized the importance of the
catchphrase "Let's Live in Our Own Ways" in its political commentary
carried in the November 12 edition.
2. Relations with South Korea
- The South and the North reaffirmed their stances on the previously agreed
issues including holding the groundbreaking for the construction of the Gaeseong
Industrial Complex at the end of December and a South Korean economic delegation's
visit to North Korea at the Third Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion
Meeting. That provided a basis for inter-Korean cooperation in the economic
arena to proceed.
The North Korean media falsely reported that South Korean naval ships intruded
the North Korean territorial waters and South Korean tanks instigated a provocation
near the military demarcation line. It is notable that the North said these
acts were caused by the attitude of the South Korean military authorities to
follow the U.S.
The North publicized that its Democratic Front for the Reunification of the
Fatherland discussed future action plans of its subordinate organizations and
pending issues to encourage all North Koreans to rally around the campaigns
for the North's military-first policies and the conclusion of a North Korea-U.S.
non-aggression pact.
3. External Affairs
While continuing its request to conclude a North Korea-U.S. non-aggression
pact, the North repeatedly criticized the U.S. claim about the threat of its
nuclear development program. These moves seem to be intended to bring to the
fore the illegitimacy of the U.S. policy to put pressure on North Korea in connection
with the nuclear issue.
The North warned that unless the five Japanese abductees who were given permission
to visit Japan returned to the North, it would postpone indefinitely the North
Korea-Japan security talks due to be held during November. It is expected that
the future North Korea-Japan relations would not move on smoothly.
The groundbreaking ceremony for a goodwill park was held at the Russian embassy
in North Korea, symbolically signifying friendly ties between North Korea and
Russia, which have been recently strengthened.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of ties between North Korea
and Pakistan, the foreign ministers of the two countries exchanged congratulatory
telegrams.
