North Korea-weekly review-7

NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 29 (November 13, 2008)

*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments
related to North Korea from Nov. 6-12, 2008.

November
6 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says a national scientific and
technological public presentation and exhibition in the field of Koryo (ancient
Korean) medicine took place at the Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang during
two days starting Nov. 4.
6 The KCNA says Cabinet decisions on the regulations of public services and of
the enforcement of the social security law have of late been adopted in the DPRK
(North Korea).
6 The KCNA says Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's
Assembly (SPA), sent a message of greetings to Boris Tadic, president of Serbia,
on Oct. 30 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Serbia.
6-11 A delegation of the National Youth Organization of Iran led by its Head
Mohammad Javad Haji Ali Akbari, vice president of Iran, visits Pyongyang.
6 The SPA Presidium gives a reception at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang
in honor of the delegation of the National Youth Organization of Iran on a visit
to the DPRK.
7 A memorandum of understanding on friendship exchange and cooperation between
the Kimilsung Socialist Youth League (KSYL) of the DPRK and the National Youth
Organization of Iran is signed at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
7 Talks between delegations of the DPRK KSYL and Iran's counterpart are held at
the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
8 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Norodom Sihamoni, king of
Cambodia, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of its independence.
8 Premier Kim Yong-il sends a message of greetings to Hun Sen, prime minister of
Cambodia, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of its independence.
8 A delegation of the State Academy of Sciences headed by its President Pyon
Yong-rip leaves Pyongyang to visit Germany.
8 A delegation of the KSYL led by First Secretary of its Central Committee Ri
Yong-chol leaves for Laos.
8 The KCNA says a winter study tour of revolutionary battle sites and
revolutionary sites in Ryanggang Province started, which is participated in by
servicepersons of the (North) Korean People's Army (KPA) and working people and
school youth and children from across the country.
9 The KCNA says an agreement on cultural cooperation between the governments of
the DPRK and Qatar was signed with due ceremony in Doha on Nov. 5.
9 The delegation of the National Youth Organization of Iran visits the Kumsusan
Memorial Palace, where Kim Il-sung's embalmed body is laid in state, to pay
homage to the former leader.
10 The KCNA says a function for naming a senior middle school in Laos the
"Laos-DPRK Friendship School" took place in a district of Vientiane City, the
capital of the southeast Asian country, on Oct. 31.
10 The KCNA says an extra-large stone coin has been found in Munhwa-ri, Yonthan
County, North Hwanghae Province.
10 A delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Trade headed by its Vice Minister Ku
Pon-thae leaves Pyongyang for China by train.
10 Kim Yong-nam meets with the delegation of the National Youth Organization of
Iran, which paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
10 Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun receives credentials from Torben Due,
representative of WFP stationed in Pyongyang.
10 The KCNA says leader Kim Jong-il sent vehicles and equipment to the Chongjin
Goat Farm in North Hamgyong Province.
10 Polish Ambassador to the DPRK Roman Iwaszkiewicz hosts a reception at
Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on the occasion of the independence day of Poland.
10 Vice President of Iran Mohammad Javad Haji Ali Akbari, who is heading the
delegation of the National Youth Organization of Iran, hosts a reception in
connection with their visit to the DPRK.
11 The KCNA says an opening ceremony for a photo exhibition and an art
performance were held at the Friendship Hall in Hanoi and a friendly meeting held
at a textile mill on Nov. 4 to mark the 50th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's visit
to Vietnam and the first anniversary of the meeting between Kim Jong-il and Nong
Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Vietnam.
11 The KCNA says Kim Yong-nam sent a message of greetings to Jose Eduardo Dos
Santos, president of Angola, on Nov. 7 on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of
its independence.
11 Pak Ui-chun sends a message of greetings to Goncz Kinga, his Hungarian
counterpart, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Hungary.
11 Kim Yong-nam receives credentials from Henrique Silveira Borges, Portuguese
ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
11 Pak Ui-chun meets with Portuguese Ambassador to the DPRK Henrique Silveira
Borges who paid a courtesy call on him.
11 Staff members of the Indonesian embassy in Pyongyang visit the International
Friendship Exhibition on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation
of the DPRK-Indonesia Friendship Association.
11 Le Van Cu, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK, holds a reception to mark the
50th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's visit to Vietnam and the first anniversary of
the meeting between Kim Jong-il and Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
12 The head of the North's delegation to the inter-Korean general-level military
talks sends a notice to the South Korean military that the KPA will restrict
overland passages through the Military Demarcation Line from Dec. 1.
12 Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrives in Pyongyang.
12 Talks between North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun and Mottaki are held
at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
12 The KCNA says Premier Kim Yong-il sent a message of greetings to Mirko
Cvetkovic, prime minister of Serbia, on Oct. 30 to mark the 60th anniversary of
the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
12 The KCNA says an agreement on visa free travel for carriers of diplomatic
passports and service passports was signed with due ceremony between the
governments of the DPRK and Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw on Nov. 9.
12 A spokesman for the foreign ministry issues a statement blaming outside forces
for fasely creating the impression the DPRK is to blame for the delayed
implementation of the Oct. 3 agreement, which was adopted at the six-party talks
on North Korea's denuclearization in 2007. The statement denies an earlier
announcement by Washington that Pyongyang had agreed to allow its partners in the
six-party talks to take samples to verify its nuclear declaration.
12 The DPRK government hosts a reception in honor of Iranian foreign minister
Mottaki at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
12 Choe Thae-bok, chairman of the SPA, meets with Mottaki during a courtesy call
at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
12 Kim Yong-nam meets with Mottaki during a courtesy call at the Mansudae
Assembly Hall.