InternalAffairs
Internal Affairs
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il gave on-site directions at the saltern in Wonsan bay that has just completed its construction and has initiated its operations, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 23. After visiting the saltern, he also paid a visit to an artillery company and a combat vehicle company which are sub-units of Army Unit 287, and also visited Army Unit 503, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 24-25.
Kim also met with twenty one war veterans including Kim Jang-hwan, currently residing in Pyongyang province, and delivered the table set for their birthdays, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 27.
After the announcement of the `party slogan' on July 2, efforts are being made to accomplish its goals by releasing repetitious introduction of goals through various media. Also programs such as propaganda pictures, poems and performance activities are taking place in order to instigate the civilians.
The memorial day for the Great Fatherland Liberation War ('53. 7.27. the armistice-signing date) marked its 52nd anniversary. Various commemorative events were held such as the People's Army soldiers' meeting to avow their loyalty on July 26. Such events pledged to inherit and develop the achievements from the victorious war.
Through an editorial released on July 27 in the Rodong Daily, it was stated that the most important priority was to strengthen national self-defense and to reinforce North Korea's war deterrence powers, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 27.
The 3rd exhibition on the achievements of universities' scientific research held at the `Three Revolution Exhibition Hall' ended on July 25 after its opening on July 19, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 26.
North Korea's Minister Lee Bum-geum of the Ministry of Communications was replaced with Ryu Young-sup, according to the Rodong Daily on July 13 and Jo Byoung-joo was nominated as the Minister for the Ministry of Machine-Building Industries, according to the Central Broadcasting Station on July 22.
Inter-Korean Affairs
South and North Korea held the first consultative meeting of inter-Korean working-level fishery cooperation in Gaeseong from July 25 until 27 and adopted an agreement including 6 main areas of cooperative methods to contribute to the establishment of peace in the West Sea and the mutual benefits of the fishermen of both Koreas.
Writers from both Koreas met in Pyongyang from July 20 until 25 to participate in the `Compatriot Writer's Convention for the implementation of the June 15 joint Declaration'.
South and North Korea held a working-level contact regarding the August 15 inter-Korean government-level joint event in Gaeseong on July 22 and consulted on issues such as the size of the representative groups from each government, the duration of stay, and transportation routes. The meeting was concluded with an adoption of an agreement.
Both Koreas conducted a working-level meeting concerning the August 15 Inter-Korean Unification Football Match in Gaeseong on July 26 and 28 and agreed on holding two matches in Seoul for the men's team and the women's team on August 14 and 16 respectively.
A bill of indictment was announced on July 24 in the name of the North Korean headquarter of the Special Investigation Committee which is to inquire into the truth of the U.S army's massacre and other barbarian acts. It criticized the massacre of civilians committed by the U.S army, such as the Nogunri incident during the 6.25 Korean war and incited its citizens to resist against United States and to call for the withdrawal of American troops stationed in Korea, according to the Central Broadcasting Station and Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on July 25.
Foreign Affairs
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on July 22, which emphasized that on the occasion of the armistice-signing anniversary between two Koreas, they are making efforts for the establishment of a peaceful system and it will be a crucial element to the six-party talks according the Central Broadcasting Station and Pyongyang Broadcasting Service on July 22.
Representatives of the six countries involved in the six-party talks commenced the 4th round of the six-party talks for the sake of the peaceful resolution of North Korea's nuclear issues.
Between January and May, North Korea's trade volume with China increased by a 49.6% to around U.S.$ 605.7 million, compared to the same period last year. Exports to China reached U.S.$189 million, a 54.2% increase on-year and imports from China was around U.S.$416.6 million, a 49.6% increase on-year.
