ID :
29976
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 10:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/29976
The shortlink copeid
North Korea-weekly review-2
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 29 (November 13, 2008)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 1)
North Korea Institutionalizes Social Security System
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea's Cabinet recently adopted a decision to
institutionalize the social security system, the North's news outlet said on Nov.
6.
According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Cabinet made the
regulations for the enforcement of the social security law to correctly implement
the state's social security policies and laws and establish a stricter system and
order in social security work.
The North, which praises itself as a socialist paradise of the people, suffered
from devastating floods and famine in mid-1990s before it introduced
market-friendly reform in July 2002, reportedly resulting in an increasing income
gap between rich and poor.
The resolution detailed principles and methods to be observed in improving social
security work, such as who should be the recipients of social security
allowances. Also included in the resolution were details on standards,
preferential treatment, social security procedures, disbursement of social
security funds, organization and management of social security organs, and
production and supply by subsidiary mechanisms, the KCNA said.
The resolution will "enable the welfare recipients to enjoy greater benefits of
social security at the expense of the state by steadily consolidating and
developing the social security system," the KCNA added.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also adopted a decision on the regulation of public
services along with social security.
------------------------
N. Korean Ambassador to Sweden Serving as New Envoy to Finland
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The North Korean ambassador to Sweden is concurrently serving
as the socialist nation's envoy to Finland, according to a North Korean state
radio report on Nov. 6.
Ri Hui-chol presented his letter of credentials to Tarja Halonen, the president
of Finland, on Oct. 31, the North's state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station
said.
Residing in Sweden, Ri also serves as the North's ambassador to the Netherlands,
Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia and Iceland.
North Korea and Finland opened diplomatic ties on June 1, 1973.
------------------------
North Korea Issues Speedy Reports of Obama Victory
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea reported the election of Democrat Barack Obama as
the new president of the United States two days after the announcement of his
victory.
The North's state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) announced on
Nov. 7 that the 47-year-old African American candidate won the election in a
landslide over his Republican rival John McCain on Nov. 4.
Such speedy reporting on the U.S. Presidential election is in contrast to past
election reports by the North's media, which waited eleven days after George W.
Bush's first victory in the 2000 elections before issuing a report. Bush's
re-election in 2004 was not announced until five days after the results were
known.
The KCBS report said Obama will be inaugurated in January as the 44th U.S.
President without providing any additional comments.
Choson Sinbo, the organ of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean
Residents in Japan, announced on Nov. 7 that a new U.S. President appealing for
change has been elected, adding that the political situation surrounding the
Korean Peninsula will likely advance into a new phase.
The organ is widely seen as representative of the North's official position.
------------------------
N. Korea Seeks to Join Global Space Race
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea said on Nov. 7 the world's interest in "peaceful"
research and development of space exploration is expanding and that it will step
up efforts to join the growing trend.
"Our republic has been exercising its rights fairly in the field of peaceful
expansion into and research of space and will advance more vigorously toward a
goal that we have already chosen and put forward," declared Rodong Sinmun, the
North's most influential state-run newspaper.
Carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, the article did not
give specific details of the goal.
It said that space exploration, which used to be a monopoly of developed
countries in the West, is now a global trend.
Many developing countries such as China, India, Colombia and Angola have launched
or are accelerating research activities to send satellites or unmanned shuttles
into space, the newspaper said.
North Korea fired a long-range missile, called the Taepodong-1, over Japan in
August 1998.
Pyongyang claims the missile carried the North's first satellite, named
Kwangmyongsong-1, and that the satellite had entered into orbit five minutes
after the missile launch. U.S. observers say the satellite launch had quickly
failed.
------------------------
Kim Jong-il's Discourse Regarded by N. Koreans As 'Policy Speech'
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Koreans are interpreting the most recent discourse from
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as an administrative "policy speech" and
thoroughly delving into it to carry out his directions, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper
in Japan said on Nov. 11.
According to Choson Sinbo, the organ of the General Association of Korean
Residents in Japan, people across North Korea have been studying Kim's work and
are pledging to push through projects in line with Kim's statements.
The North rarely uses the term policy speech, while Kim Jong-il himself seldom
gives such speech in public. Kim Il-sung, the father of Kim Jong-il and the
North's founder, made a similar speech in December 1986.
The North's news media broadcast the younger Kim's work, titled "The DPRK (North
Korea) is a Socialist State of Juche (Self-reliance) with Invincible Might," on
Oct. 11 amid overseas speculation about the leader's failing health.
Kim's work, which North Korea says was originally given to the North's two major
newspapers on Sept. 5, seemed to be aimed at providing a substitute for the
leader's absence from celebrations of the North's 60th anniversary on Sept. 9.
That event first triggered speculation on Kim's health.
The North's news outlets have since then aired repeated broadcasts of portions of
Kim's 18-page discourse.
"In recent weeks, General (Kim Jong-il)'s activities have been reported daily and
the people are increasingly in high spirits as they look forward to moving ahead
with the leader as one body," the organ added.
(END)
*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 1)
North Korea Institutionalizes Social Security System
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea's Cabinet recently adopted a decision to
institutionalize the social security system, the North's news outlet said on Nov.
6.
According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the Cabinet made the
regulations for the enforcement of the social security law to correctly implement
the state's social security policies and laws and establish a stricter system and
order in social security work.
The North, which praises itself as a socialist paradise of the people, suffered
from devastating floods and famine in mid-1990s before it introduced
market-friendly reform in July 2002, reportedly resulting in an increasing income
gap between rich and poor.
The resolution detailed principles and methods to be observed in improving social
security work, such as who should be the recipients of social security
allowances. Also included in the resolution were details on standards,
preferential treatment, social security procedures, disbursement of social
security funds, organization and management of social security organs, and
production and supply by subsidiary mechanisms, the KCNA said.
The resolution will "enable the welfare recipients to enjoy greater benefits of
social security at the expense of the state by steadily consolidating and
developing the social security system," the KCNA added.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also adopted a decision on the regulation of public
services along with social security.
------------------------
N. Korean Ambassador to Sweden Serving as New Envoy to Finland
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The North Korean ambassador to Sweden is concurrently serving
as the socialist nation's envoy to Finland, according to a North Korean state
radio report on Nov. 6.
Ri Hui-chol presented his letter of credentials to Tarja Halonen, the president
of Finland, on Oct. 31, the North's state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station
said.
Residing in Sweden, Ri also serves as the North's ambassador to the Netherlands,
Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia and Iceland.
North Korea and Finland opened diplomatic ties on June 1, 1973.
------------------------
North Korea Issues Speedy Reports of Obama Victory
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea reported the election of Democrat Barack Obama as
the new president of the United States two days after the announcement of his
victory.
The North's state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) announced on
Nov. 7 that the 47-year-old African American candidate won the election in a
landslide over his Republican rival John McCain on Nov. 4.
Such speedy reporting on the U.S. Presidential election is in contrast to past
election reports by the North's media, which waited eleven days after George W.
Bush's first victory in the 2000 elections before issuing a report. Bush's
re-election in 2004 was not announced until five days after the results were
known.
The KCBS report said Obama will be inaugurated in January as the 44th U.S.
President without providing any additional comments.
Choson Sinbo, the organ of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean
Residents in Japan, announced on Nov. 7 that a new U.S. President appealing for
change has been elected, adding that the political situation surrounding the
Korean Peninsula will likely advance into a new phase.
The organ is widely seen as representative of the North's official position.
------------------------
N. Korea Seeks to Join Global Space Race
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea said on Nov. 7 the world's interest in "peaceful"
research and development of space exploration is expanding and that it will step
up efforts to join the growing trend.
"Our republic has been exercising its rights fairly in the field of peaceful
expansion into and research of space and will advance more vigorously toward a
goal that we have already chosen and put forward," declared Rodong Sinmun, the
North's most influential state-run newspaper.
Carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, the article did not
give specific details of the goal.
It said that space exploration, which used to be a monopoly of developed
countries in the West, is now a global trend.
Many developing countries such as China, India, Colombia and Angola have launched
or are accelerating research activities to send satellites or unmanned shuttles
into space, the newspaper said.
North Korea fired a long-range missile, called the Taepodong-1, over Japan in
August 1998.
Pyongyang claims the missile carried the North's first satellite, named
Kwangmyongsong-1, and that the satellite had entered into orbit five minutes
after the missile launch. U.S. observers say the satellite launch had quickly
failed.
------------------------
Kim Jong-il's Discourse Regarded by N. Koreans As 'Policy Speech'
SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Koreans are interpreting the most recent discourse from
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as an administrative "policy speech" and
thoroughly delving into it to carry out his directions, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper
in Japan said on Nov. 11.
According to Choson Sinbo, the organ of the General Association of Korean
Residents in Japan, people across North Korea have been studying Kim's work and
are pledging to push through projects in line with Kim's statements.
The North rarely uses the term policy speech, while Kim Jong-il himself seldom
gives such speech in public. Kim Il-sung, the father of Kim Jong-il and the
North's founder, made a similar speech in December 1986.
The North's news media broadcast the younger Kim's work, titled "The DPRK (North
Korea) is a Socialist State of Juche (Self-reliance) with Invincible Might," on
Oct. 11 amid overseas speculation about the leader's failing health.
Kim's work, which North Korea says was originally given to the North's two major
newspapers on Sept. 5, seemed to be aimed at providing a substitute for the
leader's absence from celebrations of the North's 60th anniversary on Sept. 9.
That event first triggered speculation on Kim's health.
The North's news outlets have since then aired repeated broadcasts of portions of
Kim's 18-page discourse.
"In recent weeks, General (Kim Jong-il)'s activities have been reported daily and
the people are increasingly in high spirits as they look forward to moving ahead
with the leader as one body," the organ added.
(END)
