North Korea-weekly review-7

NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 42 (February 19, 2009)

*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments
related to North Korea from Feb. 12-18.

12 The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il visited Wonsan University of Agriculture in Kangwon Province.
12 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il provided on the spot field guidance to workers at
factories in the port city of Wonsan on the country's east coast.
12 Senior officials from the ruling party, the army and the state, including Kim
Yong-chun, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission and minister of the
people's armed forces, hold an oath-taking rally on Mt. Paektu to celebrate the
67th birthday of Kim Jong-il, which falls on Feb. 16.
12 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il received a congratulatory birthday message from
Russian President D. Medvedev on Feb. 11.
12 The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) issues a decree
appointing Ri Mun-gyu as North Korean ambassador to Peru.
12 The KCNA reports the SPA Presidium issued a decree placing the State Film
Commission under the authority of the Cabinet.
12 The KCNA says Jose Manuel Galego Montano, Cuban ambassador to North Korea,
gave a reception at the Taedong River Diplomatic Corps Club in Pyongyang on Feb.
11 to mark Kim Jong-il's birthday. Among those invited were Party Secretary Choe
Thae-bok and Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun.
12 A reception is hosted by the North Korean Embassy in Beijing for senior
Chinese government and party officials to mark Kim Jong-il's birthday.
12 Kim Yong-nam, president of the SPA Presidium, sends a congratulatory message
to Zillur Rahman on his election as president of Bangladesh.
12 Riyad Shehada, charge d' affaires a.i. of the Palestinian embassy in
Pyongyang, gives a reception at the Taedong River Diplomatic Corps Club to mark
the birthday of Kim Jong-il. The event was attended by leading Pyongyang
officials, including Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun.
12 The workers' art squad of the General Federation of Trade Unions gives a
performance at the Central Hall of Workers in Pyongyang to celebrate Kim
Jong-il's birthday.
12 The North Korean embassy in Russia hosts a reception to celebrate Kim's
birthday. Among those present were Russian officials, including Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Alexei Borodavkin.
13 Art groups from North Korean ministries and national institutions perform at
the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang and the Central Youth Hall in
celebration of Kim's birthday.
13 The Ministry of People's Armed Forces gives a reception in honor of the
military attaches corps in Pyongyang in celebration of Kim Jong-il's birthday.
13 A national photo exhibit opens to celebrate Kim's birthday, with 200 photos
featuring leader Kim Jong-il's "revolutionary feats" on display.
13 Kim Jong-il receives a floral basket from the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China (CPC) through China's ambassador to Pyongyang, Liu
Xiaoming, on the occasion of his birthday.
14 The 13th festival of Kimjongilia, a hybrid species of the begonia flower named
after North Korea's leader, opens in Pyongyang to mark Kim Jong-il's birthday,
with tens of thousands of potted Kimjongilias on display.
14 The youth art squad of the Kimilsung Socialist Youth League gives a
performance at the Central Youth Hall in celebration of Kim Jong-il's birthday.
14 Kim Jong-il receives a congratulatory message from Cuban President Raul Castro
Ruz on his birthday.
15 The 18th Mt. Paektu Prize International Figure Skating Festival opens with due
ceremony at a Pyongyang ice rink in celebration of Kim Jong-il's birthday, with
Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of the SPA Presidium, and WPK Secretary Kim
Jung-rin in attendance.
15 A ceremony to mark Kim Jong-il's birthday is held in Pyongyang with Kim
Yong-nam and other senior party, army and state officials attending.
15 Premier Kim Yong-il sends a message of greetings to Serbian Prime Minister
Mirko Cvetkovic to mark the country's national holiday.
15 Kim Yong-nam, president of the SPA Presidium, sends a message of greetings to
Serbian President Boris Tadzic on Serbia's national holiday.
15 A synchronized swimming performance is held at Changgwang Health Complex in
Pyongyang to celebrate Kim's birthday.
16 A delegation from Mongolia's National Agency for Meteorology, Hydrology and
Environment Monitoring, led by Director-General Enkhtuvshin Sevjid, arrives in
Pyongyang.
16 The Mansudae Art Troupe gives a music and dance performance at the East
Pyongyang Grand Theater in celebration of Kim Jong-il's birthday.
16 Kim Yong-nam confers with the Mt. Kumgang Opera Troupe of Chongryon, or the
pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, at the Central
Youth Hall.
16 A national meeting of organizations from the Children's Union is held at
Pyongyang Indoor Stadium to celebrate Kim Jong-il's birthday, with leading
officials such as Choe Thae-bok and Yang Hyong-sop attending.
16 Students and youth hold dance parties across the country to mark the leader's
birthday.
16 Yang Hyong-sop meets with Ladislau Marius Vizer, president of the
International Judo Federation, at Mansudae Assembly Hall.
16 The KCNA signals the North will proceed with a test-launch of its
longest-range missile as part of the country's national space program.
17 Kim Jong-il sends an open letter to voters throughout the country announcing
his decision to register as a candidate for the 333rd constituency, which
comprises a mostly military electorate, for the March 8 parliamentary election.
17 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Yahya A.J.J.Jammeh, president of
Gambia, to mark the 44th anniversary of the country's independence.
17 The 18th Mt. Paektu Prize International Figure Skating Festival closes with
due ceremony at the Pyongyang ice rink with senior officials such as Yang
Hyong-sop and Kim Jung-rin attending.
18 A spokesman for the KPA General Staff tells the KCNA that the army is fully
ready for an all-out confrontation with South Korea.
18 The North's Central Election Committee issues a report to announce Kim's
registration as a candidate for SPA deputy at the 333rd constituency for
parliamentary elections.
18 The North's Hydro-Meteorological Service and Mongolia's National Agency for
Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment Monitoring released the minutes of the 1st
session on exchange and cooperation in the field of hydro-meteorology in
Pyongyang and signed an MOU on cooperation in science and technology in the field
of hydro-meteorology and other relevant fields.
(END)