InternalAffairs
Internal Affairs
o North Korean leader Kim Jong-il stressed the role of the military as an economic leader and justified the rationale for military-first politics, when he visited military units 493 and 614, on January 31 and February 4, according to the North Korean broadcasting services.
- The gesture was intended to boost military morale and induce allegiance to him by highlighting his interest in improving the service environment for soldiers.
o On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the declaration of Juche (self-reliance) ideology for the entire North Korean society, North Korea said that one of chairman Kim Jong-il's greatest achievements was that he had formalized the Juche ideology in 1974 as the "guiding ideology of the times."
o North Korea's major public organizations, including the Union of Agricultural Working People, the Youth Union and the Woman's Union, held their "plenary sessions," respectively, to vow the implementation of the tasks contained in the New Year Joint Editorials February 2-3 and each adopted their resolutions.
- They resolved to spread the environment for the implementation of the three major tasks contained in the editorials and to unite for the military-first ideology.
o Saying that industrial production for the first month of the year exceeded that of last year's, North Korea exhorted the nation to make great strides in the economic and scientific sectors. The call apparently was intended to expand supply potentials that are necessary for a sustained promotion of its economic management improvement measures despite the tense situation caused by its nuclear program.
o North Korea reported on January 29 that it completed work on a 1,600-meter funicular lift built in Mt. Baekdu's Samjiyeon Ski Slope. The move is viewed as part of efforts to open up the sports sector by inviting international winter events and to lure foreign tourists by developing tourist resources.
Relations with South Korea
o North Korea reported February 3-4 on the 13th inter-Korean ministerial talks held in Seoul, including the keynote speech delivered by the chief North Korean delegate.
o Through its Pyongyang Broadcasting Station on February 2, North Korea tried to agitate social organizations in South Korea to wage anti-American struggles. Under the theme of "South Korean people's will for a resolute anti-U.S., independence struggle," it also said that the United States began to plunder the South Korean economy.
o Through a statement February 5 by the spokesman of its Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, North Korea urged Seoul to take steps to accelerate Mt. Geumgang tourism project, saying that Pyongyang had no alternative but to take other options if the current stagnant tourism lingers on.
External Affairs
o North Korea announced through its broadcast media on February 3 that the second round six-way talks on the nuclear issue will be held from February 25. It made a short report without stating Pyongyang's position on the resumption of the talks.
o In connection with the passage by Japan's lower house of the amendment to the foreign exchange and trade laws, the North Korean foreign ministry issued a statement on February 2, in which North Korea denounced the move as a "violent violation of the North Korea-Japan Pyongyang Declaration" and said it would take necessary measures to cope with the move.
o A North Korean "government delegation," on a tour of Africa, visited Uganda, Nigeria and Guinea. The delegation, led by Yang Hyeong-seop, vice chairman of the presidum of the Supreme People's Assembly, met with the prime ministers and speakers of the national assembly of the countries for talks on bilateral economic cooperation and friendly relations.
