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NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 460 (Aug. 2, 2007)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 2)
North Korea's No. 2 leader visits Algeria and Ethiopia
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam made an official visit to Algeria and Ethiopia while on a three-nation trip that already took him to Mongolia.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on July 26 that the leaders of North Korea and Algeria discussed ways to promote bilateral ties as the North's No. 2 leader made an official visit to the African country.
Kim and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika "exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in various fields and issues of mutual concern," the previous day, the KCNA said in an Algiers-datelined article monitored in Seoul.
"The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere," the news agency added.
Kim was in Algeria for three days starting on July 24 and left for Ethiopia on July 26. According to the KCNA, Kim paid an official goodwill visit to Ethiopia for five days starting on July 27.
While Ethiopia he paid a courtesy call on its President Girma Wolde-Giorgis and met with Prime Minister Meles Zewal, and had a cordial talk with Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the Community of the African Union.
Prior to arriving in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Kim went to Cairo on July 26 and discussed international affairs and bilateral relations with Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak.
Kim was accompanied by Minister of Public Health Choe Chang-sik, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong-jun and Vice Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Myong-san.
This is the first time for Kim to travel to other countries since he went to Cuba to attend the 14th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in September.
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North Korea's foreign minister to attend ASEAN regional forum: report
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun left for Manila on July 28 to attend an Asian regional forum, the country's media reported, amid international efforts to dismantle the communist country's nuclear weapons program.
"The DPRK (North Korea) delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Ui-chun left Pyongyang on July 28 to visit Philippines and take part in the 14th ministerial meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held in Manila," the (North) Korean Central News Agency said.
Foreign ministers and other top diplomats from 27 countries are scheduled to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia's largest security forum, which opens in the Philippine capital on August 2. Its members also include the United States, the European Union, China and South Korea.
In a joint statement to be issued at the end of the two-day forum, the participants are expected to praise the North's recent shutdown of its key nuclear facilities following a six-nation deal, according to South Korean officials.
On July 29 just after arriving in Manila, Pak met his Filipino counterpart Alberto Rolumo. In the meeting, "Minister Pak said the six-party talks had been producing good progress (and) said his country was committed to the agreements signed in February to move forward with the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Romulo's spokesman Claro Cristobal told reporters.
But Pak, who became the North's foreign minister in May, stressed that the Feb. 13 accord, under which Pyongyang shut down its main nuclear reactor, was based on "action for action," the spokesman added.
The KCNA said on July 31 that "An agreement on establishing a bilateral negotiating system between the DPRK Foreign Ministry and the Philippine Foreign Ministry was signed in Manila on July 29" by the foreign ministers of the two countries.
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Kim Jong-il participates in election of deputies to local assemblies
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited the Chusang Co-op Farm in Hamju County, South Hamgyong Province, on July 29 to participate in the election of deputies to provincial, city and county people's assemblies.
The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Kim received ballots from the chairman of Sub-Constituency No. 36 of Constituency No. 85 for the election of deputies to the South Hamgyong Provincial People's Assembly and voted for one of the candidates before conversing with those running in the election.
He later acquainted himself with farm work and rural development in the area and said he expected the workers of the farm to bring about a new surge in production of agricultural goods, according to the agency.
Earlier on July 26, Kim enjoyed an art performance at the Hamhung Grand Theatre by the State Academy Beryozka Dancing Troupe of Russia named after N.S. Nadezhdina on a local performance tour, the KCNA said the next day.
Kim also inspected a sub-unit of the (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) Unit 4318, the news agency said on July 31.
Kim was accompanied by Hwang Pyong-so and Kim Sung-yon, vice department directors of the North's ruling Workers' Party (WPK) Central Committee, according to the KCNA.
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North Korea elects deputies in local elections
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea has elected 27,390 deputies to the government councils of provinces, cities and counties, the North's state-run media reported on July 30.
"All registered voters, except those who are staying abroad or working at sea far away from the land, took part in the election as of 18:00 on July 29," the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing data from the Central Election Guidance Committee.
The KCNA reported that those who were not able to go to the polls because of old age and illness cast ballots into "mobile ballot boxes," saying all voters across the country took part in the election with ardent revolutionary enthusiasm.
Voter turnout was 99.82 percent, and all the voters cast yes votes for candidates in all constituencies, according to the KCNA.
The number of deputies is up 740 from the last election in August in 2003, the KCNA reported. In 1999, North Korea elected a total of 29,442 deputies to local assemblies.
(END)
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