*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments related to North Korea from Dec. 16 to Dec. 22, 2010.

  
December
16 Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), sends a message of greetings to Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan, on the occasion of its national day.

   16 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il inspected the (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) Unit 2670.

   16 Kim Yong-nam receives credentials from Mauritanian Ambassador to the DPRK (North Korea) Bal Mohamed El Habib at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.

   16 Bill Richardson, governor of the state of New Mexico in the U.S., and his party arrive in Pyongyang.

   16 The KCNA reports that Kim Yong-su was appointed as the country's ambassador to Nepal, citing a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.

   16 The KCNA, in an editorial, accuses Seoul's Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin for "increasing the tension" and "escalating the confrontation" on the Korean Peninsula.

   16 Kim Yong-nam sends a congratulatory message to Nebojsa Radmanovic upon his assumption of office as president of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

   16 The North's foreign ministry lashes out at the U.S. and alleges it is "stirring up a war atmosphere" on the Korean Peninsula while evading direct bilateral engagement.

   17 The Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling party, in a signed article presses Washington to engage in talks for setting up a permanent peace treaty.

   17 A spokesman for the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of (North) Korea issues a statement denouncing the U.S., Japan and South Korea for further stepping up the moves to create military tension.

   18 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Salou Djibo, president of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy and head of state of Niger, on the occasion of the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.

   18 The North's foreign ministry releases a statement accusing the U.S. and South Korea's military drills near the sea border of being a "sinister design" to preserve the Northern Limit Line and ignite a war.

   19 The KCNA reports that the country planted at least 23,000 hectares of herb-growing areas this year through its drive to increase production of medicinal plants.

   19 The Rodong Sinmun in a "bylined" article underscores the dangers of Japan's militarism and says that Japanese reactionaries are working to turn the country into a military giant for overseas expansion.

   20 The KCNA reports that Bill Richardson presented Kim Jong-il with a gift that was conveyed to Kim Yong-dae, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.

   20 The Supreme Command of the KPA in a communique responds to South Korea's live-fire drill near Yeonpyeong Island, saying that the country does not "feel any need to retaliate against" a move "taking revenge after facing a blow."

   21 Bill Richardson and his party leave North Korea. He says that North Korean officials agreed to allow IAEA inspectors in the country and were willing to negotiate the sale of some 12,000 nuclear fuel rods.

   21 Russian Ambassador Valery Sukhinin hosts a friendly meeting at his embassy on the occasion of the New Year under the North's Juche calendar. Guests include Kung Sok-ung, vice minister of Foreign Affairs.

   21 The KCNA reports that Kim Jong-il, along with his son and heir apparent, Kim Jong-un, inspected the Huichon Ryonha General Machinery Plant.

   21 The General Federation of Trade Unions of (North) Korea holds a meeting at the Central Hall of Workers in Pyongyang on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's rise to the supreme commandership of the KPA. Present were Choe Ryong-hae, secretary of the Central Committee of Workers' Party of (North) Korea, and other top officials.

   21 The KCNA reports that ceramic plates, porcelain and other relics dating back to the Koryo dynasty were recently unearthed at a kiln site in the Kotho area of Koup-ri, Kaesong.

   21 The (North) Korean Central Broadcasting Station reports that a new electronic library is built at the Hamhung University of Hydraulic Engineering.

   22 The KCNA reports that Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un inspected the Huichon Youth Electrical Complex and the construction site of the Huichon Power Station in Jagang Province.

  (END)