*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments related to North Korea from January 5-11, 2012.

  
5 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says the Kwangbok Area Supermarket in Pyongyang has opened.

   5 A meeting of sportsmen and sports officials is held in Pyongyang to pledge allegiance to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

   5 The 2012 New Year concert "The Cause of the Sun Will Be Immortal" is staged at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre by the Unhasu Orchestra.

   6 Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party of (North) Korea (WPK), slams remarks by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak that called for the North to drop its nuclear program.

   6 A poster exhibition is opened at the Pyongyang International Cultural House to vow allegiance to Kim Jong-un.

   6 Premier Choe Yong-rim visits the Tongrim Mining Machine Plant and the Tongrim Electric Appliances Factory in North Phyongan Province.

   7 Mass rallies take place in the provinces of North Phyongan, South Hwanghae, Ryanggang and North Hamgyong, and Rason city to pledge loyalty to Kim Jong-un.

   8 The KCNA says a stamp exhibition and memorial service on the theme of "The Respected General Kim Jong-il Will Live Forever" took place in Beijing on Dec. 29 last year.

   9 The KCNA says North Korea has qualified in seven events for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

   9 A music and dance performance "Let Us Uphold Our Supreme Commander Forever" is staged at the renovated April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang, with senior officials from the party and government offices including Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the SPA Presidium, in attendance.

   9 A rally of service personnel of the three services of the (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) is held in the plaza of the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang to pledge loyalty to Kim Jong-un.

   10 The KCNA says the Central Committee of the WPK will publish the "Complete Collection of Kim Jong-il's Works," a record of the Juche (self-reliance) and Songun (military-first) ideals, on the 70th anniversary of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's birth, on Feb. 16.

   10 The KCNA says North Korea will pardon convicts from Feb. 1 on the centenary of the birth of the late Kim Il-sung and the 70th birth anniversary of the late Kim Jong-il.

   11 The KCNA says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects construction projects undertaken by the KPA service persons including the Folk Park and the Meat Shop on Hero Street in Pyongyang.

   11 The North Korean performance squad for the opera "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" comes home after winding up its visit to China.

   11 A spokesman for the foreign ministry says the U.S. offered to resume food aid to the North, claiming that the U.S. made the offer during high-level talks with North Korea in July last year.

  (END)