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NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 482 (January 10, 2008)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 1)
Mass rallies held to encourage North Koreans to implement New Year's tasks
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Mass rallies have been held across North Korea to encourage citizens to implement the New Year's tasks proposed in a joint editorial on New Year's Day, according to the North's news outlets.
The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Jan. 4 said 100,000 residents of Pyongyang gathered at Kimilsung Square during the day to vow to thoroughly implement the tasks set forth in this year's joint editorial.
The editorial, which was published by the organs of the North's three major institutions, namely the party, the military and the Kimilsung Socialist Youth League, set out the North's policy priorities for the year.
While stressing a need to implement the Oct. 4 Declaration issued by the South and North Korean leaders last year in Pyongyang, the editorial called for a fresh leap forward in all sectors of the socialist country.
In an indication of the importance of the rally, it was attended by high-ranking officials from the party and government, according to the KCNA.
They included Premier Kim Yong-il; Choe Thae-bok, chairman of the North's parliament; and leading officials of ministries, national institutions and working people's organizations, it said.
The participants also included officials of party and power organs, economic institutions and working people's organizations in Pyongyang, as well as "labor heroes" and "labor innovators," the KCNA said.
In the report, Pak Pyong-jong, first-vice chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee, called on all citizens of the capital to bring about a fresh turn in building a great, prosperous and powerful country, and to welcome the grand festival to mark the 60th anniversary of the socialist country's foundation in September.
Similar mass rallies were also held in North and South Phyongan Provinces, South Hwanghae Province, Kangwon Province and South Hamgyong Province on Jan. 7, according to the KCNA.
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Kim Jong-il visits power plant for first official activity this year
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il inspected a power plant construction site in his first announced activity of this year, the North's official news agency said on Jan. 6.
Kim gave pep talks to the workers during his visit to the site, located near the Yesong River in south of Pyongyang, the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in the report monitored in Seoul. But it gave no date or details of the visit.
Kim called the plant a "precious asset contributing to the construction of a strong nation," according to the KCNA.
His choice of the plant as his first official tour this year reflects the energy-starved nation's reality, analysts in Seoul said.
Two days later, the KCNA reported that Kim Jong-il recently visited a military unit in his first such inspection this year.
The KCNA said Kim visited Army Unit No. 776, without revealing the date of the visit or the location of the unit.
After inspecting an operational command room and military lecture rooms to acquaint himself with the training of the commanding officers, he "set forth important tasks to be fulfilled by the unit to increase its combat capability in every way," the news agency added.
Kim was accompanied by three senior officials -- General Hyon Chol-hae, General Ri Myong-su and Ri Yong-chol, first-deputy department director of the Workers' Party Central Committee.
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North Korea re-emphasizes importance of developing science and technology
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea, seeking to transform itself into a great, prosperous and powerful country, has re-emphasized the importance of developing science and technology to expand its economic power.
The (North) Korean Central Broadcasting Station said on Jan. 8 the development of science and technology is the basis for developing the economy and national defense, while supporting self-reliance.
The broadcaster also said the struggle for building a "kangsong taeguk," or a great, prosperous and powerful country, is not possible without state-of-the-art science and technology.
North Korea has claimed every year since 2000 in its annual New Year joint editorial that science and technology is a guarantee for building economic power. That year, the editorial named science and technology along with ideology and the gun as the "three pillars" of its policies.
In the joint editorial this year, North Korea also said, "Scientists and technicians should actively solve pressing scientific and technological problems arising in building an economic power, and all the sectors and units should launch a vigorous mass drive for technological innovation."
Meanwhile, Rodong Sinmun, organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said on Jan. 4 that it is important for socialist countries and developing countries to develop science and technology by their own strength and efforts.
"To strengthen South-South cooperation is one of the important ways of shattering the imperialists' moves for monopolizing science and technology and blockading them," it added.
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North Korea plans to strengthen sports exchanges with the South in 2008
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea plans to broaden its exchanges in sports with South Korea, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper based in Japan reported on Jan. 8.
Choson Sinbo, organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, quoted Kim Jang-san, vice chairman of the Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, as saying, "The Oct. 4 declaration (of the second inter-Korean summit) has opened a new phase in developing exchanges between the North and the South, and we will make every effort to realize brisk exchange this year."
However, Kim did not specifically say what kinds of North-South sports exchanges will be expanded.
Inter-Korean sports exchanges, such as jointly marching in the openings of Olympic Games, have paved the way to easing tension and increasing engagement between the two Koreas.
Kim also said North Korea will endeavor to clinch as many as medals as it can in the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The North has qualified for the Games in eight categories, including women's football, weightlifting, women's judo and the marathon.
Separately, the organ reported that the North's taekwondo committee selected 2007's seven best players in the traditional events of taekwondo, ssirum (Korean wrestling) and the board game paduk, commonly known in the West as "go." Taewondo is a Korean martial art.
(END)
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