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NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 487 (February 21, 2008)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 1)
Kim Jong-il designates 2012 as target year for 'Kangsong Taeguk': report
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il designated the year 2012 as the target year to accomplish his vision of Kangsong Taeguk (a great, prosperous and powerful nation), according to a pro-Pyongyang newspaper in Japan.
The Choson Sinbo, the organ of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, on Feb. 14 said Kim Jong-il made a "historic" decision toward 2012 during his on-site inspections last year, as he judged that his fatherland had come the way of paradise from hardship.
North Korea for the first time exposed its plan of achieving Kangsong Taeguk by 2012 at a meeting of intellectuals in Pyongyang at the end of November, and officially declared the plan in the New Year's joint editorial of 2008.
The joint editorial, the North's annual policy guideline, called for opening up the door of Kangsong Taeguk by "the centenary of the late President Kim Il-sung's birth," beginning from this year.
Kim had an insight that the timing for the last-minute charge toward Kangsong Taeguk had became mature, the newspaper said, adding that the change of the international situation, such as the U.S. policy transformation from pressure to dialogue with the DPRK (North Korea), is favorable for realizing Kangsong Taeguk.
Demonstrating his will to make the country into an economic power, Kim Jong-il inspected a power plant construction site in his first announced activity of this year, according to the North's news outlets on Jan. 6.
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Pak Hak-son becomes top sports officer of North Korea
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- Pak Hak-son, who has served as the No. 2 man in North Korea's sports-related commission since 2006, has been promoted to chairman of the commission, according to the North's news outlets.
The promotion, in which Pak replaced Mun Jae-dok, came as the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on an international sports event in Pyongyang on Feb. 15.
The KCNA introduced Pak Hak-son as chairman of the (North) Korean Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission in an article about the 17th Mt. Paektu Prize International Figure-skating Festival that opened at the Ice Rink on the same day.
Pak also made an opening speech at a domestic sports event on Feb. 12 in the capacity of chairman.
Former Chairman Mun Jae-dok, 62, who has led the commission since 2004, was last seen through the North's media at a sports event on Dec. 26.
Pak had been a manager of the sports department in the North's youth organization since 1985, but has been a low-profile figure.
The North's Ministry of Sports under the Cabinet changed into the current commission in 1999.
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North Korea, China commemorate old friendship between leaders
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea and China commemorated the friendship between their late leaders, Kim Il-sung and Zhou Enlai, recalling a traditional relationship of "blood allies."
The move came in a reception hosted on Feb. 19 by the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 110th birth anniversary of former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and the 50th anniversary of his visit to the DPRK (North Korea).
Zhou, who is one of the most revered modern personalities among the Chinese, visited Pyongyang in 1958, before Kim Il-sung's return visit to Beijing later that year.
According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Feb. 20, Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese ambassador to North Korea, noted in his speech that Zhou and Kim provided a tradition of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, stressing that Zhou visited the DPRK more frequently than any other country.
In return, Choe Thae-bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of (North) Korea, also emphasized in his speech that North Korean people would always make positive efforts to boost the DPRK-China relations of friendship and cooperation as intended by the top leaders of the two countries.
North Korean current leader Kim Jong-il reportedly pledged not to betray the friendship with China, which has been passed down by the parties and former leaders of the two countries, when he met with a special envoy of China's President Hu Jintao on Jan. 30.
Meanwhile, Chinese embassy officials on Feb. 19 visited the DPRK-China Friendship Thaekam Co-op Farm in Sunan District, Pyongyang, before handing over vehicles and aid materials to the farm. The farm had been inspected by both Kim Il-sung and Zhou 50 years ago.
In addition, a meeting and a film screening were held at the Taedonggang Club for the Diplomatic Corps in Pyongyang on Feb. 18 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their visit to the farm, the KCNA said.
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North Korea's media paves a way for N.Y. Philharmonic in Pyongyang
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- In a bid to prepare for the New York Philharmonic's first performance in Pyongyang on Feb. 26, North Korea's official newspapers seemingly paved the way for the performance by sending out related articles in succession.
The Minju Joson, the organ of the North's Cabinet, on Feb. 19 introduced Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 "From the New World," which will be played by the N.Y. Philharmonic in its Pyongyang performance.
The Rodong Sinmun on Feb. 11 said the New York Philharmonic, founded in 1842, is one of the world's top three orchestras with an old history and tradition, and described how it developed over the years with its diverse performances and famous conductors like Leonard Bernstein.
Sources familiar to the matter said the North has notified its people of the scheduled performance through its internal network, while they are encouraged by the prospect of improving relations with the U.S., their long-time archenemy.
The New York Times, citing Zarin Mehta, the orchestra's executive director, reported on Feb. 19 that the N.Y. Philharmonic performance will be broadcast live in the North from 6 p.m., which is very unusual in the communist state.
(END)
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