*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments related to North Korea from February 2-8, 2012.

  
February
2 The Policy Department of the National Defense Commission (NDC) issues an open questionnaire aimed at denouncing South Korea's policy toward it.

   2 Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), meets with Naguib Sawiris, executive chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holdings SAE of Egypt, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.

   2 Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun meets with Arnaldo Carrilho, outgoing Brazilian ambassador to North Korea.

   2 A North Korean film screening and gathering are held to mark the Day of the Shining Star at Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang.

   2 A national seminar on the Juche (self-reliance) idea takes place in Pyongyang, with Kim Ki-nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of (North) Korea (WPK).

   2 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says the severest cold wave since 1977 has hit the Pyongyang area.

   2 Premier Choe Yong-rim visits the construction site of a new building for the Koryo Sungkyunkwan Academy in Kaesong, a city near the inter-Korean border.

   2 Premier Choe Yong-rim visits the Biology Branch under the State Academy of Sciences in Pyongyang.

   3 Naguib Sawiris leaves Pyongyang, wrapping up his three-day visit to North Korea.

   4 The delegation of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea led by Choe Han-chun, vice chairman of its Central Committee, leaves Pyongyang to attend a meeting of the Presidential Council of the World Federation of Trade Unions to be held in South Africa.

   4 The KCNA says preparations for the 16th Kimjongilia Festival, slated to be held in mid-February, are under way in North Korea.

   4 The KCNA says posters have been produced in North Korea for a national fine arts festival to mark the 100th birthday of the North's founder Kim Il-sung.

   4 The KCNA says the "Order of Kim Jong-il," "Kim Jong-il Prize" and "Kim Jong-il Youth Honor Prize" have been instituted in North Korea on the 70th birthday of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

   5 School youth and children from across North Korea held an oath-taking meeting in front of the late Kim Jong-il's alleged birthplace in a secret camp on Mount Paektu.

   5 The KCNA says officials and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions from across North Korea started their study-tour of the revolutionary battle sites on Mount Paektu.

   6 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects the Command of Combined unit No. 597 of the (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) Navy and its subunits.

   7 Kim Yong-nam, president of the SPA Presidium, meets with outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to North Korea Arnaldo Carrilho at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.

   7 The KCNA says the title of People's Artiste was conferred on Paek Mi-yong, singer of the State Merited Chorus.

   7 A gathering of agricultural workers to praise the late Kim Jong-il's virtues is held at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang.

   8 Kim Jong-un inspects the KPA Command of Large Combined Unit No. 324.

   8 A 10-day film festival is opened to mark the 70th birthday of the late Kim Jong-il, dubbed "the Day of the Shining Star."

   8 The KCNA says that the February 16 Science and Technology Prize was conferred on scientists, technicians and researchers who have contributed to the improvement of North Korea's science and technology fields.

   8 An art troupe of Koreans from Japan led by Ri Ryong-su, head of the Kumgangsan Opera Troupe of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, arrives in Pyongyang to commemorate the Day of the Shining Star.

   8 A ceremony is held to mark the unveiling of a phrase praising the late Kim Jong-il, "Peerless Patriot General Kim Jong-il. February 16, Juche 101(2012)" in Korean, which was cut into the rock face of Mount Sokda in Jungsan County, South Phyongan Province, on the 70th anniversary of his birth.

   8 The KCNA says the ten best players and ten best coaches of Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, and Ssirum, Korean wrestling, for 2011 have been selected in North Korea.

  (END)