InternalAffairs
Internal Affairs
o Chairman Kim Jong-il visited the Gochigang Revolutionary Site, Eunheung Youth Power Station and Taecheon No. 4 Power Station in Taecheon county, North Pyong-an province, for on-site guidance and expressed an intention to focus on constructing hydroelectric power plants to resolve power shortages, according to the Central Broadcasting Station December 20.
o On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the installation of Kim Jong-il as its supreme commander, North Korea held a Central Report Session. Amid no new proposals made in connection with its nuclear arsenal program, or specific references about it, the meeting tried to solidify the regime's unity by highlighting admiration for chairman Kim and the justification for military-first politics, according to North Korea's major media source on December 23.
o North Korea is preparing to hold a 'nationwide literary festival' on a grand scale next year on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's start (June 1964) of Workers Party work and of the 30th anniversary of the declaration (February 1974) of the Juche (self-reliance) ideology program. This was reported by the Literary Gazette on December 13.
o On the occasion of the 86th birthday (December 24) of Kim Jeong-sook, the late mother of Kim Jong-il, North Korea created a celebratory atmosphere by having media outlets publicize "Osandeogprize Sports Meet" and a secret camping and exploratory march in Mt. Baekdu by the nation's youth union workers.
o North Korea says expansion of farmers' markets to "general markets" means a conversion of the market's operation formula in the context of the socialist economic management improvement measures. The Joseon Sinbo, reporting this on December 22, predicted that the principle of the market economy will be further applied in the country in the future.
Relations with South Korea
o North and South Korea held the fourth working-level meeting on inter-Korean economic cooperation system and the first working-level meeting on clearance and settlement and working-level meeting on certification of origin, respectively, in Pyongyang December 17-20 and adopted separate joint press releases.
o South and North Korea held their ninth military working-level meeting at Peace House in the United Nations Command-controlled part of Panmunjom December 23 and adopted an agreement on the establishment and management of guard posts (checkpoints) in the zones controlled by each side in the Donghae (East Sea) and Seohae (West Sea) regions. The step is expected to guarantee safer and smoother traffic than previously seen between the regions controlled by both sides.
External Relations
o North Korea called on Japan to apologize and compensate for the past. It made the call in connection with Japan's hosting of the Asian Senior-level Talks on Proliferation (ASTOP) as well as the issue of clearing up Tokyo's past legacies, as it denounced the move as an attempt to impose international blockage on North Korea, which would intensify the North Korea-Japan standoff and provoke a new war.
o A "tourism railway" linking Onseong, North Hamgyeong province, which borders China, and Tumen of China's Jilin prefecture, was opened to service, according to the Heukryeonggang Newspaper December 22. The railway is expected to contribute to generating foreign exchange and facilitate transportation of materials, while furthering the friendship between North Korea and China.
o Russia's Academy for Security, Defense, Law and Order Studies awarded diplomas of the highest academic degree and professorship as well as a decoration of the highest order to chairman Kim Jong-il, according to the Central Broadcasting Station December l2. It was apparently intended to reinforce friendly and cooperative relations between Russia and North Korea.
o North Korea and Ireland held formal talks aimed at establishing bilateral diplomatic ties in Pyongyang on December 10. The two countries agreed to set up diplomatic relations on the basis of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.
o North Korea and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences signed a "project on 2004-2005 scientific cooperation" in Ulan Bator December 19 as part of a bid to promote the exchange of experts and information on science and technology.
