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NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 487 (February 21, 2008)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 2)
North Korea's magazine criticizes Lee Myung-bak for his remarks
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea's weekly magazine recently criticized South Korea's president-elect Lee Myung-bak for saying that he will review the proposed inter-Korean economic cooperation projects, calling his remarks "obscene talk of impropriety."
The Tongil Sinbo, the North's weekly dealing with the South, in its latest edition of Jan. 26 which was acquired in Seoul on Feb. 18, called Lee's remarks at his New Year's press conference "reactionary" and "anti-reunification," and accused him of discounting the Oct. 4, 2007 declaration between outgoing South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Lee said he will review the economic cooperation projects of the declaration with soundness, fiscal burden and national consensus in mind. Lee will take office on Feb. 25.
It is the first time that the North's media directly attacked Lee. They had previously restrained from criticizing him directly, only saying that the Oct. 4 declaration should be implemented in the spirit of "by-our-nation-itself."
However, the magazine belongs to no official organization of the communist state, as opposed to the Rodong Sinmun or the Minju Joson, which are the organs of the North's ruling Workers' Party of Korea and Cabinet, respectively, which means its position could be overturned by officials later, analysts in Seoul said.
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Putin congratulates North Korean leader on birthday
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory birthday message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Feb. 16, along with his hopes for closer ties between the two countries, the North's official news agency said.
The hard-pressed communist government tried to churn up a festive mood around the country for Kim's 66th birthday, organizing various arts performances and sporting events pledging loyalty to the leader.
"I highly praise your efforts to strengthen friendship and cooperative ties between our two countries," Putin said in the message covered by the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).
"Our common efforts to develop multifaceted and productive cooperation will contribute to further deepening dialogue between the two countries and boosting efficiency," the message said.
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North Korea urges Japan to withdraw from six-party talks
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea said on Feb. 19 that Japan should pull out of the six-party process for denuclearizing the communist state, saying Japan has no "political ability" to deal with such "sensitive and important matters."
The Minju Joson, the daily of the North Korean Cabinet, accused Tokyo of trying to hinder the dialogue aimed at peacefully resolving the dispute by raising the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped decades ago by North Korean agents.
"Japan is trying to escalate confrontation in the six-party talks because it has interest in realizing its political purposes rather than settling the nuclear issue," the daily said.
Japan has claimed that the five other parties of the talks -- the U.S., China, Russia and the two Koreas -- must include the kidnapping issue on the agenda of the denuclearization talks.
The newspaper also claimed that Japan put the brake on Washington's plan to cross North Korea off the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring countries, as required by an international agreement.
Under the October agreement, North Korea was supposed to disable its key nuclear facilities and declare all of its nuclear programs by the end of 2007 in return for energy aid and political concessions, including its removal from the blacklist. Pyongyang says it provided a list of nuclear programs in November. Washington denies the claim.
"Japan must recognize that it has no political ability to handle such sensitive and important matters as the nuclear dispute, and should stay away from the venue of the six-party talks before being expelled from there," the daily said.
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North Korea denounces planned military drill in the South
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korean media on Feb. 20 denounced a planned military maneuver involving South Korean and U.S. forces next month, claiming it is a preparation for an invasion.
The (North) Korean Central Broadcasting Station, monitored in Seoul, said Pyongyang will not stand by idly while the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle Exercise 2008 takes place.
The exercise, to be held March 2-7 in South Korea, replaces the annual Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration joint exercise. It will be the first joint exercise to test Seoul's war-waging capabilities under a scenario in which South Korea has retaken operational control of its troops from the U.S.
The state-controlled station said the maneuvers are a clear sign of aggression that amplify the threat to North Korea, as U.S. forces are already upgrading their fighting capabilities in South Korea.
It then claimed that talk of "peace" and "dialogue" coming out of Washington is a ruse to hide the U.S. intention to invade North Korea.
The media outlet said that the North Korean people and military are prepared to retaliate in force, and warned the U.S. to halt its useless effort to invade.
Military sources in South Korea said this year's Key Resolve/Foal Eagle Exercise is important for all sides because it is designed to test the ability of the allies to work together, as Seoul is expected to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) of its military in 2012.
(END)
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