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NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 477 (December 6, 2007)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 1)
North Korea uses foreign textbooks in agriculture education: report
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea, which is putting policy priority on resolving food shortages, is using foreign textbooks at its educational institutions related to agriculture, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper in Japan said on Nov. 28.
The Choson Sinbo, organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, said the Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the North is publishing textbooks of renowned overseas agricultural colleges, although translated and adapted to the local situation, so the textbooks can be used at Pyongyang University of Agriculture.
It is rare for the North to use overseas advanced agricultural technology as the country's colleges of engineering and natural science have used their own textbooks, according to the sources familiar to the matter.
Until now, North Korea has only used textbooks from abroad for foreign language studies or reference purposes.
The newspaper also said the academy has allowed its experienced scientists to teach in the university as concurrent professors, which is also not usual in the North's education system.
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N.K. stresses role of intellectuals in developing science, technology
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea urged intellectuals to make more efforts in developing science and technology, stressing the importance of those fields in transforming the communist country into an "economic power."
The call came in an editorial released on Nov. 30 by the Rodong Sinmun, organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party of (North) Korea (WPK), to mark the start of a two-day meeting of intellectuals held in Pyongyang that day.
The newspaper said the intellectuals should demonstrate through the meeting their determination to take the lead in implementing the WPK's plan for building a Kangson Taeguk (great, prosperous and powerful nation) with science and technology.
It added that intellectuals should be deeply aware that the grandeur and prosperity of the country and the people's happiness are guaranteed by the latest science and technology.
In apparent reference to the North's nuclear test last year, the Rodong Sinmun said patriotic scientists expanded the nation's deterrent power a thousand times, adding that they helped launch the country's first satellite a few years ago. The U.S. believes the North launched a long-range missile, not a satellite.
The newspaper also said the intellectuals should think "the socialism of our own style" is the ultimate justice, truth and science, urging them to disseminate the Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (military-first) ideologies in publication, literature, journalism and art.
The meeting of the intellectuals was the first of its kind in 15 years. North Korea also had a meeting of the lowest-level organizations of the party, or secretaries of the cells, for the first time in 13 years last month.
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North Korea reports activities by nuclear inspection team
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Amid increased expectations ahead of North Korea's nuclear disablement, the country's news outlet reported the activities in the North by an international inspection team, emphasizing that the country is fulfilling its duty on the principle of "action for action."
The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Nov. 30 that an international team on Nov. 28 engaged in disabling nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, 100-km north of Pyongyang.
The team consisted of representatives of the United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, which are participating in the six-party talks, and nuclear experts.
The KCNA affirmed that disablement has been underway since Nov. 5 under the agreement reached on Oct. 3 as the result of the six-party talks.
Under the agreement, North Korea has to disable its key nuclear facilities and disclose all its nuclear programs and activities by the end of the year.
"They saw for themselves on the spot the processes of disabling the 5-megawatt test reactor, the reprocessing plant and fuel rod plant including the cooling tower, and confirmed that the disabling operation is making proper progress process," the KCNA said.
They said in unison that the commitments to make political and economic compensation for disabling the nuclear facilities within the year should be fulfilled as early as possible, it said, adding the North will follow the moves of the U.S. and all other parties.
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North Korea says 90 pct of flood-damaged roads repaired
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea has nearly finished repairing its roads and bridges that were destroyed by floods earlier this year, a pro-North Korean newspaper reported on Dec. 1.
According to the Choson Sinbo, organ of the pro-Pyongyang General Association for Korean Residents in Japan, the impoverished North has also built new roads and bridges while repairing severed routes.
"Throughout the entire nation, over 90 percent of the construction of roadbeds, bridges and ducts has been completed," the report said, adding that tens of thousands of light bulbs in some 10 tunnels between the country's main expressway between the capital, Pyongyang, and the southern border town of Kaesong have also been replaced.
Over 450 people in the communist nation were believed to have been killed and some 150 others injured in August due to heavy rains, while a typhoon in September left over 1,600 people homeless and over 100,000 hectares of farmland damaged.
(END)
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