Major Events on North Korea

Major Events on North Korea (July 20 - August 4)

July 20 -- Mahmoud Mohamed Farag Zain, ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the DPRK gave a reception at the embassy on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the July 23 Revolution, the national holiday of the Egyptian people.

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK sent a message of greetings to Colombian President Andres Pastrana, on the occasion of Colombia’s Independence day.

July 21 -- DPRK-U.S. military talks at a general officer level took place at Panmunjom to discuss the West Sea incident. Ri Chan Bok, senior delegate of the KPA side, proposed the U.S. side to accept the five-point proposal put forward by the KPA side lest a grave conflict should recur in the West Sea.

Secretary Kim Yong Sun of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea met and had talks with the Japanese joint delegation of Yatabe Osamu, chairman of the New Socialist Party and former member of the House of Councillors, and Simabukuro Soko, chairman of the Okinawa Socialist Mass Party and member of the House of Councillors.

July 22 - General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a wreath to the bier of the late Kim Pyong Sik, advisor to the central committee of the Korean Social Democratic Party, and ex-Vice President of the DPRK state.

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the July 23 Revolution, the national holiday of the Egyptian people.

The secretariat of the CPRF issued information bulletin No. 791 denouncing the south Korean authorities of their move to allow the infiltration of Japanese culture into south Korea.

July 23 -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the SPA, sent a message of greetings to Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives, on the occasion of its Independence Day.

July 26 -- The Korean Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to "Comfort women for the Army" and the Victims of the Pacific War sent letters to the Japanese Prime Minister, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Foreign Minister, the Minister of Justice protesting against Japan's refusal of apology and compensation for the crimes it had committed against the Korean people in the past.

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the SPA sent a message of condolence to Mohamed the 6th, King of Morocco, in connection with the death of former King Hassan the 2nd.

A spokesman of the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing the attempt of the United States to disarm the DPRK under the name of “improved relations.”　“We do not want to regard the United States as the sworn enemy and if the U.S. recognizes our sovereignty and the freedom of option and approaches us in good faith, we are ready to develop relations with the U.S. on the principles of equality and mutual benefit," he said.

July 27 -- The joint preparatory committee for the '99 Grand Pro-Reunification Festival and the 10th Pan-National Rally for Independence and Great Unity of the Nation, on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War, issued a resolution calling for the smashing of the new war provocation moves of the United States, Japan and the south Korean authorities, and demanding the signing of a peace agreement between the DPRK and the U.S. and the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from south Korea.

Palestinian ambassador to Korea Shaher Mohammed Abdlah gave a reception at his embassy to mark the 46th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.

The "Jonsung Cup" sports contest opened to mark the 46th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War (July 27), the day of the second liberation. The contest includes 10 sports events such as swimming, water polo, yachting and water skiing.

Rodong Sinmun issued a commentary entitled "Green light for reinvasion of Korea," regarding the fact the Japan Defense Agency decided to include the fund for introducing midair refueling tankers in a budget for next year, in the name of the "situation on the Korean peninsula".

July 28 -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited Kum Song lifeguard unit No. 155 of the KPA Navy to congratulate the KPA soldiers on the 46th anniversary of the Korean people's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War.

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the DPRK SPA sent a message of greetings to President of Liberia Charles Taylor on the occasion of its Independence Day.

July 28 -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the SPA sent a message of greetings to Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori on the occasion of the Independence Day of Peru.

The UNICEF presented equipment for the producing drinking water to children of the DPRK and its presentation ceremony took place in Pyongyang.

July 30 -- The KCNA reported that the Pyongyang Declaration "Let us defend and advance the cause of socialism" was signed by the Egyptian National Progressive Unionist Party, the Nasser Arab Democratic Party and the Unified Communist Party of Italy. This brought the number of those political parties which signed the declaration to 245 on July 28.

July 30 -- The military source said that U.S. have committed over 140 cases of aerial espionage against the DPRK with the mobilization of strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes on different missions in July.

The KCNA criticized the south Korean authorities for their decision to purchase over 100 new type missiles from the United States. "It is as clear as daylight that the purchase will bring serious consequences by further increasing tensions and creating a touch-and-go situation on the Korean peninsula," it said.

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the SPA sent a message of greetings to John Bani, President of the Republic of Vanuatu, on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of its independence.

Paek Nam Sun, Foreign Minister of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber upon his reappointment as first deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait.

Kim Yong Nam, member of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and President of the Presidium of the SPA met and had talks with a delegation of the Liaoning provincial committee of the Communist Party of China led by Wen Shizhen, member of the CPC central committee and secretary of its Liaoning provincial party committee.

The Korean Anti-Nuke Peace Committee issued a statement on denouncing the Japanese reactionaries for shipping a great deal of plutonium to Japan from France through the Korean straits.

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the SPA sent a message of greetings to Mathieu Kerekou, President of the Republic of Benin, on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of its independence.

August 1 -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, sent a message of greetings to President Ruth Dreifuss on the National Day of the Swiss Confederation.

August 2 –The KCNA reported that the heavy rain visited various parts of Korea from July 30 to August 2. There was over 150 mm rainfall in Paechon, Yonan, Kimchon and Thosan counties in south and north Hwanghae provinces for three hours. A 52 mm rainfall was registered in Kaesong area, bigger than the heaviest so far observed record in 24 hours.

The KCNA announced that a law on external economic arbitration was adopted in the DPRK.

Hong Song Nam, Premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greetings to P. J. Patterson, Prime Minister of Jamaica, on the occasion of the 37th Independence Day of the country.

August 2 -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today sent a message of greetings to Mohamed VI upon his accession to the throne of Morocco.

August 3 -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK made a comment criticizing U.S. Defense Secretary, William Cohen for his remarks that the north Korea's satellite launch is a "missile launch" and in order to "deter its missile launch", the United States, Japan and south Korea are required to cooperate with each other and react to it by all military means." He said, “The further the United States escalates pressure upon us, the stronger our reaction will become to bring unpredictable consequences.”

The Central Committee of the Korean Film Workers Union released a statement regarding the struggle of film workers and people of different social standings in south Korea against the moves to open a market for U.S. films.

August 4 -- The DPRK Measure Committee for Demanding Compensation to "Comfort Women for the Army" and the Victims of the Pacific War sent an appeal to progressive Japanese organizations and figures regarding Japan's persistent refusal to make an apology and compensation for the crimes it committed against the Korean people in the past.

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