NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 68 (August 20, 2009)

*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments
related to North Korea between Aug. 13-19, 2009.

August
13 North Korea releases the South Korean employee who has been in detention since
March 30 for politically slandering the North and persuading a North Korean
worker to defect.

13 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il provided field guidance to the updated Songdowon Youth Open-Air Theater
in Wonsan, Kangwon Province.
13 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il, together with army servicepersons, enjoyed art
performances given by the art group of servicemen's families and servicepersons
of a company under a sub-unit of the Korean People's Army (KPA) Unit 974.
14 Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly,
sends a message of greetings to Denis Sassou Nguesso, president of Congo, on the
49th anniversary of its independence.
14 Kim Yang-gon, a Workers' Party department director, meets with Hyun Jeong-eun,
chairwoman of South Korea's Hyundai Group.
14 Choe Thae-bok, secretary of the Workers' Party, confers with the delegation of
the All-China Women's Federation headed by its Vice President Zhen Yan at
Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.
14 Kim Yong-nam sends a congratulatory message to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono upon
his reelection as president of Indonesia.
14 Cabinet Premier Kim Yong-il sends a congratulatory message to Moulaye Ould
Mohamed Laghdaf on his appointment as prime minister of the Islamic Republic of
Mauritania.
14 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,
president of Indonesia, on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of its
independence.
15 Rodong Sinmun, newspaper of the Workers' Party, urges North Koreans to step up
their "general march" toward building Kangsong Taeguk, a strong, prosperous and
grand nation by 2010, in an editorial to mark the 64th anniversary of the Korean
liberation from the Japanese colonial rule.
15 Kim Jong-il sends a message of greetings to the Russian President Dmitri
Anatolievich Medvedev on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of Korea's
liberation from the Japanese colonial rule.
15 Kim Jong-il receives a message of greetings from the Russian president on the
Korean liberation anniversary.
15 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to the Russian president on the
Korean liberation anniversary.
15 Servicepersons of the KPA and people from all walks of life visit the Kumsusan
Memorial Palace in Pyongyang on the anniversary of the Korean liberation.
15 A delegation of the World Peace Council led by President Socorro Gomes flies
into Pyongyang.
15 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Rose Francine Rogombe, acting
president of Gabon and president of the Senate, on the occasion of the 49th
anniversary of its independence.
16 A spokesman for the Panmunjom Mission of the KPA issues a statement denouncing
the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military exercises to be kicked off by South
Korea and the U.S. on Aug. 17.
16 Kim Jong-il meets with Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of South Korea's Hyundai Group.
16 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il gave on-site guidance to the newly-built Pothonggang
Shop.
17 Hyundai Asan and the North's South Korea business arm Asia-Pacific Peace
Committee reach an agreement in Pyongyang to resuscitate stalled cross-border
tourism projects and reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
17 The KPA Supreme Command issues a report ordering its troops to be on "special
alert," denouncing the joint military exercise by South Korea and the U.S. as a
"grave threat" to peace.
17 Kim Yong-nam meets with the delegation of the World Peace Council led by its
President Socorro Gomes at Mansudae Assembly Hall.
17 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il gave on-site guidance to the Pukchang Thermal Power
Complex and the February 8 Jikdong Youth Coal Mine.
17 South Korea's Hyun Jeong-eun returns home, wrapping up an eight-day trip to
North Korea.
18 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il provided field guidance to the Kujang Fish Farm
rebuilt on an expansion.
19 Kim Jong-il sends a message of condolences to the bereaved family of Kim
Dae-jung, ex-president of South Korea. Kim died at a Seoul hospital on Aug. 18 at
age 85.
19 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of condolence to Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahm ad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, emir of Kuwait, over an unexpected fire in the Middle Eastern nation
that caused numerous casualties.
19 The KCNA says a North Korean delegation led by Kim Ki-nam, secretary of the
Workers' Party, will visit Seoul on Aug. 21-22 to mourn over the death of
ex-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
(END)