Weekly on North Korea (Serial No
1. Internal Affairs
o Kim Jeong-il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission, enjoyed a performance by the art groups of family members of servicemen in army units 593 and 529 participating in the 8th Contest of Art Groups of Servicemen's Families. Kim Jeong-il was accompanied by Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army Kim Yeong-chun, Generals Hyeon Cheol-hae and Park Jae-gyeong, Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party Kim Gi-nam, and others. (May 19, Central Broadcasting Station
o The 8th Pyongyang International Commodity Fair, attended by more than ten nations including China, Thailand and England, was held at the Three-Revolution Exhibition from May 16-19. (May 16, Central Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)
o Stating that the reunification of Korea, the successful fulfillment of the June 17 Joint Declaration, the sovereignty and survival of the people and peace on the Korean peninsula can be guaranteed only with a military-first (songun) policy, North Korea emphasized the military-first policy of Kim Jeong-il. (May 17, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)
o With the spring planting period in full swing, Minister of Agriculture Lee Gyeong-shik emphasized that the basic link for the construction of a socialist economy is the substantial augmentation of agricultural production, and called on the people to fully concentrate their efforts on agriculture. (May 12, Minju Joseon)
o North Korea is focusing on projects for the remodeling and modernization of public buildings, private houses and educational and cultural organizations located in Pyongyang, its capital city. (May 15, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)
o To commemorate the presentation of Kim Jeong-il's famous work, "Theory on Architectural Art," the "5th May 21 Architectural Festival" was held at the Youth Central Hall on May 18-19. (May 20, Central Broadcasting Station)
o Rice transplanting began in full stride in the farming villages of South Pyeongan Province, including Yeoldusamcheollibeol in the West Coast granary, Oncheolbeol and Jeungsanbeol. (May 19, Central Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)
2. Inter-Korean Relatio
o South and North Korea held vice ministerial-level talks in Gaeseong from May 16-19, 2005.
· The two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on current issues of mutual interest such as the nuclear issue and measures for the normalization of inter-Korean relations. The two sides released a joint statement on three matters, including the holding of the 15th ministerial-level talks in June (June 21-24, in Seoul).
o On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the May 18 popular uprising, North Korea disseminated various items through the media, including a statement by the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (May 17) and an interview with a spokesperson for the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front (May 17). Charging that the United States is the "genuine criminal that masterminded and coordinated the barbaric massacre in Gwangju," North Korea propagandized its struggle against the US. (May 18, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service and others)
o Simultaneous ceremonies for Buddhists in North and South Korea were held in temples in various parts of North Korea to celebrate the 2549th Birthday of Buddha on May 15. (May 16, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)
3. External Affairs
o With regard to US Secretary of State Rice's interview with CNN in which she referred to North Korea as a "terrible regime," a spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a press conference with the Joseon Central News Agency and criticized Rice as "an ignoramus who knows nothing of the history of North Korea-US relations," and "a brazen woman who makes it her business to lie." (May 14, Central Broadcasting Station, Pyongyang Broadcasting Service)
o In a press conference, a spokesperson for the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland lashed out at US OPLAN 8022-02, labeling it a "plan for a preemptive nuclear strike" in the interest of launching a war of aggression against North Korea.
- North Korea claimed it is only natural that it is further strengthening its nuclear deterrence for self-defense purposes seeing as the United States has compiled, with utmost secrecy, an operational plan for a preemptive nuclear strike against North Korea. (May 20, Central Broadcasting Station)
