Serial No. 684
Internal Affairs
o Chairman Kim Jong-il, accompanied by generals Hyeon Chol-hae, Pak Jae-gyeong and Li Yong-cheol, the first vice director of the party's central committee, visited KPA unit 272, which was honored with Oh Jung Hup's Seventh Regiment Title, according to Central Broadcasting Station news on March 7.
o The Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly decided on March 3 to convene the 2nd session of the 11th Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK in Pyongyang on March 25, according to Central Broadcasting Station news on March 5.
o A national meeting was held at the People's Palace of Culture on March 8 to mark the 94th celebration of International Women's Day.
- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Jung Rin, secretary of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and high cadres attended the meeting, which stressed the role of women in the national struggle to build socialism and the spirit of defending the Leader at the risk of one's life, according to North Korean Central News Agency on March 8.
o A national meeting was held to mark the 30th anniversary of the publication of Kim Jong Il's work titled "On making efforts to build an advanced economy" at the People's Palace of Culture on March 6.
- The book contributed significantly to accelerating the development of agriculture and industry in the 1970s, according to various media reports propagandizing the event.
o On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the promulgation of the Land Reform Law on March 5, North Korea propagandized through various media, the Land Reform Law, as well as achievements in land reform.
o The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK decided to adopt Regulations on Advertisement and Regulations on Foreign Exchange Management in the Gaeseong Industrial Zone on February 25, according to North Korean Central News Agency on March 5.
Relations with South Korea
o A spokesperson for the Navy Command of the KPA condemned what they called the South Korean military authority's disturbing moves to dispatch more armed forces close to the NLL (Northern Limit Line) in the West Sea under the pretext of regulating illegal operations of Chinese fishing boats during the blue crab season. The spokesperson went on to warn that it could trigger a new naval skirmish in the West Sea, according to Pyongyang Broadcasting Services on March 11.
o Through a report by its Central Broadcasting Station on March 11, North Korea denounced the U.S. for the ROK-US Combined Forces Command's exercise RSOI/ Foal Eagle scheduled to take place March 22~28. The North claims that Washington is now provoking a new war in order to invade North Korea.
- North Korea asserted that the military drill is 'a joint war exercise to test its armed forces as a preparatory step for invading the DPRK.'
External Affairs
o In a statement issued by a spokesperson for its Foreign Ministry, North Korea expressed disappointment over the results of the recent six-party talks, and condemned the U.S. for lacking the will to resolve the issue. The statement also urged Washington to shift its policy, according to North Korean News Agency on March 10.
o In an interview with Russia's Itar-Tass News Agency on March 5, North Korea's Railway Minister and Chairman of the DPRK-Russia Railway Cooperation Committee Kim Yong Gang expressed his commitment to accelerate efforts to connect TKR/TSR.
o As part of preparations to create a festive mood ahead of the 92nd birthday of the late Kim Il Sung on April 15, Central Broadcasting Station reported on March 3 that the Sun Day Preparation Committee has been set up in twenty-seven countries including Equador, Tanzania and Austria.
