InternalAffairs
Internal Affairs
o According to a radio report on October 25, Chairman Kim Jong-il toured military unit 894 on October 25 and military unit 370 two days later report inspected the Eundeog Power Station, now under construction by military units 802 and 549, a radio on October 29, and visited military unit 485 a day later.
- Since resuming his public activity October 21 after an absence of 42 days, Kim tried, through his active tour of military units, to induce military allegiance to him and to promote morale by personally encouraging improvement in military facilities in rear areas, as well as to prepare the soldiers for the coming winter.
o North Korea reported October 27 the death of party secretary Kim Yong-soon, 69, the day before while undergoing treatment for a traffic accident injury he sustained on June 16. The report eulogized Kim for having enhanced the party's external prestige and contributed to a turning point for unification such as the June 15, 2000, South-North Joint Declaration.
o On the occasion of the Day of Settlement and Establishment of Measures for Scientific Technology Research Projects that falls on October 28, North Korea held a series of nationwide science and technology events. Through the events, it expressed a strong will for pushing for development of science and technology by exhorting research and development and productivity of those engaged in institutes, factories and enterprises.
o Despite implementation of the "Ten-year Reforestation Plan," a project to replant naked mountains with trees, it would take quite a long time as the mountainous areas are routinely exploited for vegetable cultivation, firewood and logging.
o North Korea staged its National September 5th Awards University Sports Meet October 15-22 in Nampo to popularize school sports as well as to recruit potential talent.
Relations with South Korea
o North and South Korea adopted a five-point agreement during their seventh working-level contact concerning the connection of inter-Korean railways and roads held in Gaeseong October 27-28. High on the agenda was provision of materials and equipment needed for the connection work.
- The two sides agreed to actively cooperate so that materials and equipment for the entire work could be provided in accordance with the work schedules agreed to between them. They also set the schedule for the sixth technical support meeting to deal with maintenance and repairs of the equipment provided.
o North Korea denied that its navy patrol boat violated the Northern Limit Line and denounced South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff for making false allegations to cast a pall over the atmosphere of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation. The denial was made in an interview a spokesman of the North Korean navy command made with the North Korean Central News Agency October 31.
External Relations
o Chairman Kim Jong-il of North Korea and Wu Bangguo, chairman of the standing committee of China's National People's Congress, came up with a position October 30 that they agreed in principle to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in a peaceful solution and to continue with the six-party talks on the issue. Wu met with Kim while on a visit to Pyongyang October 29-31.
* China also notified North Korea of its decision to provide Pyongyang with grants.
o North Korea said it was willing to consider U.S. president George W. Bush's proposal for a written guarantee for its security in a multilateral framework, if his remarks were intended to affirmatively realize a package deal based on the principle of simultaneous actions. The North Korean reactions came in a press interview its foreign ministry spokesman gave to the Korean Central News Agency on October 25.
o North Korea and Russia concluded an agreement on the exchange of students in Moscow October 22. Under the agreement, up to 30 North Korean students may be sent to Russia for studies. The step is expected to step up expanded student and academic exchanges between the two countries.
