【Internal Affairs】
From July 29 to 31, the North Korean media reported that Kim Jong Un
provided field guidance for the second test launch of the Hwasong-14
and attended a banquet celebrating the successful test launch.
On July 31, the North Korean media reported the holding
of a World Hepatitis Day event at the People’s Palace of
Culture.
On August 2, the North Korean media reported that
a national sci-tech presentation on earthquakes and volcanos was held
in Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province.
【Inter-Korean Affairs】
From July 29 to August 3, the North Korean media reported that a
spokesperson for the Consultative Council for National Reconciliation,
in statements, condemned the ROK government’s North Korea strategy in
its five-year plan for state affairs and the ROK government’s response
to the second test launch of the Hwasong-14.
On July 29, the North Korean media reported that a spokesperson for
the Korean Peace Advocacy National Committee, in a statement, blasted
the ROK government’s decision to not open to the public the
documents regarding the THAAD deployment and the ROK President’s order
to deploy four additional THAAD launchers.
On August 3, the North Korean media reported that a spokesperson for
the Korean Council of Religionists, in a statement, expressed support
for the demonstrations demanding the withdrawal of the THAAD system
and called for an ongoing anti-THAAD campaign.
On August 3, the North Korean media reported that a spokesperson for
the Central Committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, in a
statement, denounced the South Korean conservative opposition parties
for calling on the government to respond firmly to the second test
launch of the Hwasong-14.
【Foreign Affairs】
On August 2, the North Korean media reported that a spokesperson for
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, threatened the US
regarding the second test launch of the Hwasong-14.
From August 1 to 4, the North Korean media reported that a
spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Q&A sessions
with KCNA reporters, condemned the US Congress for passing a North
Korea, Iran, and Russia sanctions bill; the US’s robust military
response to the second test launch of the Hwasong-14 (the ROK-US joint
ballistic missile drill, a joint air interdiction operation by two
B-1B strategic bombers, etc.); the US President’s signing of a law
imposing sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea and the law’s
entry into force; and the US government’s ban on travel to North Korea.
On August 2, the North Korean media reported that a spokesperson for
the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, in a statement, slammed the US
regarding the second test launch of the Hwasong-14 and urged the US to
change its policy on North Korea.