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Domestic Affairs
- Chairman Kim Jong-il reportedly expressed
interest in boosting military morale by observing a fire power demonstration
and checking on living conditions in the barracks, when he visited
the 1,106th military unit and other outfits.
- Attending a report session marking
the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Academy of Sciences
November 29, Kim said that the five-year plan for science and technology
development would start next year, while emphasizing that a policy
emphasis was being given on the development of science and technology
to support North Korea's economic management improvement measures.
- North Korea publicized achievements
in its efforts to improve the people's livelihood with the dedication
of the Mangyongdae chicken processing plant on December 3, creation
of goat farms and grazing areas in various locations, opening the
Daedonggang beer brewery and construction of some 8,000 housing
units in South Hamgyeong Province.
- North Korea anticipates a stream of
foreign exchange earnings from the expected surge of tourists to
Gaeseong, when the Gaeseong industrial complex is created (in collaboration
with South Korea). Work is under way to manage and preserve cultural
relics there.
- North Korea conducted ideological
indoctrination campaigns on the masses to cope with the rapidly
changing situations by holding a report session marking the 30th
anniversary of the performance of the revolutionary opera, "Flower
Girl," on November 30, and a study competition in the form
of a catechism on Juche (self-reliance) ideology held by the General
Federation of Trade Unions November 29-30.
Relations with South Korea
- In connection with the 'Not Guilty'
verdict on the soldiers involved in the crushing deaths of two middle
school girls by a U.S. armored vehicle, North Korea gave detailed
reports, including on anti-American rallies in South Korea. It launched
a massive anti-US campaign amid supporting statements issued by
the education ministry and various other organizations.
- Taking advantage of the recent waves
of anti-American atmosphere in the South, North Korea tried to form
a joint inter-Korean struggle coalition against the United States.
The Northern branch of the "Beomminryeon," a seditious,
underground organization, staged a special assembly on December
4 and urged an anti-American struggle on a nationwide scale.
- North Korea denounced the United States
for impeding the inter-Korean project for exchange and cooperation
in connection with the Military Demarcation Line crossing procesures
by the personnel of the North and the South.
External Affairs
- North Korea's foreign minister Baek
Nam-soon sent a letter to director general Mohamed ElBaradei of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on December 2, rejecting
and labeling it "unfair" the IAEA's resolution of November
29 that urged Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear program.
- Through an "indictment"
filed by its Joseon Lawyers Committee on December 1, North Korea
demanded the conclusion of a North Korea-US non-aggression treaty
and the withdrawal of the US troops from South Korea. It said that
the US military forces violated the United Nations charter and the
Korean armistice agreement.
- North Korea and Russia conducted a
joint survey on the railway structure between Wonsan and Mt. Geumgang
along the North Korean east coast.
- The British ambassador to North Korea
took up his post in Pyongyang belatedly. He was scheduled to arrive
in October, but was delayed due to the latest nuclear controversy
that resurfaced when North Korea acknowledged its nuclear program.
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