NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 57 (June 4, 2009)

*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments
related to North Korea between May 28-June 3, 2009.


May
28 Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
(SPA) sends a congratulatory message to Bingu Wa Mutarika upon his reelection as
president of Malawi.
28 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says Premier Kim Yong-il on May
26 sent a congratulatory message to Madhav Kumar Nepal on his assumption of
office as prime minister of Nepal.
28 The KCNA says Kim Yong-il on May 14 sent a message of greetings to Sali
Berisha, prime minister of Albania, marking the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
28 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il provided field guidance to the Namhung Youth
Chemical Complex.
29 The KCNA says Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun on May 26 sent a congratulatory
message to S. M. Krishna on his appointment as foreign minister of India.
29 A delegation from China's Shanghai Association for Cultural Exchanges with
Foreign Countries led by Gao Ling, assistant to the secretary general of the
association, arrives in Pyongyang to participate in an exhibition of calligraphy
and painting by children of the two countries.
29 A foreign ministry spokesman issues a statement threatening "additional
self-defensive measures" should the U.N. Security Council impose additional
sanctions against the North's second nuclear test.
30 A delegation of the KCNA led by its Vice President Ri Hae-yong leaves
Pyongyang to visit China.
30 Meetings are simultaneously held in the capitals of South Pyongan, Jagang,
South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae and Kangwon Provinces to hail the country's second
"successful" nuclear test.
31 The KCNA says North Korean leader Kim Jong-il watched an art performance given
by the State Merited Chorus to mark the opening of the Kalma Theater at an army
base in Wonsan.
31 Kim Jong-il sends a wreath to the tomb of his great-grandmother Ri Bo-ik in
Pyongyang on the anniversary of her birth 133 years ago.

June
1 Various events, including art performances and games, are held all over the
country in celebration of International Children's Day.
1 Meetings are held simultaneously in North Pyongan, South Hamgyong, North
Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces to hail the country's second nuclear test.
1 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano commemorating his country's national day.
1 An exhibition of calligraphic works and drawings produced by (North) Korean and
Chinese children opens in Pyongyang to mark International Children's Day.
1 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il attended a performance given by the families of
servicemen under Unit 529 and the Navy Command of the (North) Korean People's
Army (KPA) as part of the second round of competition between art groups composed
of families of KPA servicemen.
2 Kim Jong-il and Kim Yong-nam send a joint congratulatory message to Cuban
President Raul Castro Ruz on his birthday.
2 Kim Yong-nam receives credentials from Nigerien Ambassador to Pyongyang
Boubakar Adamou at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.
2 A meeting for solidarity with the Palestinian people is held at the North
Korea-Palestine Friendship Oryu Cooperative Farm in Pyongyang, attended by
Palestinian Ambassador to North Korea Ismail Ahmed Mohamed Hasan and his embassy
officials.
3 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il watched a performance given by family members of
servicemen under KPA Units 264 and 604 who participated in the second round of
competition between art groups of KPA servicemen families.
3 Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun holds talks with new Nigerien Ambassador to
Pyongyang Boubakar Adamou who paid a courtesy call on him.
(END)