【Internal Affairs】
On April 13-18, the North Korean media
reported that Kim Jong Un participated in a meeting on the second day
of the first session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly; visited
the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun; gave field guidance at the Sinchang
Fish Farm; and supervised the combat drill of Unit 1017 of the Air and
Anti-aircraft Force and a test-firing of a new tactical guided weapon.
On April 14, the North Korean media reported that a mass rally was
held to celebrate the re-election of Kim Jong Un as the chairman of
the State Affairs Commission.
On April 14, the North Korean media reported that Kim Jong Un issued
an order on the promotion of commanding officers of the Korean
People’s Army (KPA): Pak Jong Chon, Kim Kwang Hyok, and Kim Myong Sik
were promoted to the rank of general and 33 other officers including
Jang Yong Su and Ko In Chol to the rank of major general.
On April 14, the North Korean media reported that the Taesong
Department Store was remodeled ahead of the birth anniversary of
President Kim Il Sung.
On April 15, the North Korean media reported that a central meeting
to celebrate the 107th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung was held at
Pyongyang Gymnasium on April 14.
On April 17, the North Korean media emphasized that the North will
thoroughly implement the points of Kim Jong Un’s policy speech.
On April 19, the North Korean media reported that a rally in Gangwon
Province adopted an appeal to all working people across the nation.
【Inter-Korean Affairs】
On April 13, the North Korean media
condemned the South’s introduction of two F-35A fighter jets and its
plan to introduce more F-35As later.
On April 16, the North Korean media denounced the government
briefings to the National Assembly by Cheongwadae and departments
involved in unification, foreign relations, and national security.
On April 18, the North Korean media blasted the South for
outsourcing a case study on EU integration.
【Foreign Affairs】
On April 13, the North Korean media
reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir
Putin, and Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong sent congratulatory
messages to Kim Jong Un for his re-election as the chairman of the
North Korean State Affairs Commission.
On April 17, the North Korean media condemned the US regarding the
passage of the Special Measures Agreement on defense cost-sharing at
the South Korean National Assembly.
On April 18, the North Korean media reported that the director
general of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of American Affairs, in a
Q&A session with KCNA reporters, accused Pompeo of
“self-indulgence” and “reckless remarks” and called on Trump to drop
him as the top DPRK-US negotiator.