Cover of the 20 March 2013 edition of the Korean Workers’ Party daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun
Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un and members of the central leadership with participants in an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers at the People’s Theater in central Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 19 March (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended a commemorative photo session with participants in a national meeting of industrial workers held in Pyongyang on 18 March (Monday). KJU’s last reported public appearance was at the national meeting of light industry workers. Attending the photo-op with Kim Jong Un were Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), Kim Kyong Hui (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Department Director and KJU’s aunt), Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of Propaganda and Agitation [publicity and information]), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman), Pak Pong Ju (Director of the KWP Light Industry Department), Ri Mu Yong (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier) and the chief secretaries of KWP Provincial Committees and chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees.
Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph on 19 March 2013 with other members of the central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un and other members of the central leadership in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said, “the meeting loudly sounded the drive on the front of the light industry for improving the people’s living standard and made the torchlight for innovations kindled in the light industry furiously flare up for a fresh leap forward in agriculture and all economic sectors” and “warmly congratulated the participants on having successfully carried out their work with high enthusiasm and active participation and had a photo taken with them.” KJU also “expressed belief that working people, officials, scientists and technicians in the field of light industry and related fields playing important roles in improving the people’s living standard would perform their duties for developing the light industry as required by the building of a thriving socialist nation.”
Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un, members of the DPRK central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Kim Jong Un (3rd L) sits on the platform (rostrum) during the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013. Also on the platform are Kim Ki Nam (L), Choe Yong Rim (2nd L), Kim Kyong Hui (4th L) and Tae Jong Su (5th L) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
DPRK state media reported on 18 March (Monday) that a national meeting of light industry workers was held in Pyongyang. Attending the meeting from the central leadership were Kim Jong Un, Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), Kim Kyong Hui (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Department Director), Kim Ki Nam [KWP Secretary], Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission) and Tae Jong Su (Chief Secretary of the South Hamgyo’ng KWP Provincial Committee) along with “officials of the units taking the lead in carrying out the Party’s policy of light industry and labor innovators, leading officials here and in local areas, officials of economic guidance organs, affiliated fields and working people.” KJU’s last reported public appearance was his observation and guidance of live fire artillery exercises in the West (Yellow) Sea.
A view of the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Choe Yong Rim delivered the national meeting’s report. According to KCNA Choe said in his report “that the history of the development of light industry in the DPRK is a history associated with President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il’s Juche-oriented idea on building light industry, their outstanding leadership and tireless devotion and efforts. Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il regarded it as the supreme principle of the party and state activities to improve the standard of people’s living, regarding it as their maxim to believe in people as in Heaven. The great Generalissimos’ idea of building the Juche-based light industry and their undying leadership feats are being successfully carried forward by Marshal Kim Jong Un.” Choe also “referred to the successes achieved in the light industrial field under the leadership of the WPK in the past” and “called for making great innovations and leap forward in producing consumer goods, steadily pushing forward the modernization of equipment and production processes and producing consumer goods as an all-people movement.”
Choe was followed by other speakers from the party, government and the country’s light industrial sector. Kim Jong Un then delivered his speech in which he said “that the light industrial front along with the agricultural front are the main fronts on which efforts should be focused in the drive for building an economic power and improving the people’s living standard. To rapidly develop the nation’s light industry is as worthwhile work not only for improving the people’s material and cultural living standards but an important political work for demonstrating the advantages and vitality of the socialist system in the DPRK, consolidating the single-minded unity of the Party and people as firm as a rock and bringing earlier the revolutionary great event of national reunification,” and KJU “set forth main tasks and ways to be held fast to by the field of light industry at present.”
Kim Jong Un (L) speaks at the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
Kim Jong Un addresses the national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 18 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)
According to a gist published by KCNA, Kim Jong Un also remarked:
It is necessary to make the most effective use of the existing production potential to radically increase the production of consumer goods and push forward the modernization and scientification of light industry and thus put it on the world’s advanced level.
The light industry should keep production going at a high rate to massively produce varieties of quality consumer goods.
The industrial establishments in the field of light industry should wage a widespread campaign to improve the quality of consumer goods in order to produce daily necessities favored by people and ones symbolic of their units and impeccable on foreign markets.
In order to solve the issue of raw and other materials for light industry the units tasked to provide funds for the people’s living should increase their roles for the present.
A basic way of solving the issue is to locally produce raw and other materials.
The chemical industry has a big role to play for locally producing those materials.
It is very important to develop the local industry for boosting the production of consumer goods.
The field of light industry should regard it as important task to put light industry on a modern and scientific basis and dynamically push forward it at a high level.
The industrial establishments should have scientists and technicians positively involved in production as required by the trend of developing modern light industry so that they may scientifically analyze all the issues arising in producing goods, improving quality, managing equipment and conducting business activities and solve them by dint of science and technology.
It is important to wage the drive for radically increasing the production of consumer goods through a movement involving all masses and the whole society.
It is necessary to boost the production of varieties of quality consumer goods by waging a widespread August 3 Consumer Goods Production Movement as it was done in the 1980s.
If the field of light industry makes rapid progress ahead of other fields, displaying its vitality, and the whole country intensifies the drive for the production of consumer goods, keeping pace with it, the Party’s plan to radically improve the people’s living standard in near future will be translated into a reality.
Great efforts should be channeled into improving public service while increasing the production of consumer goods.
In order to quickly improve the people’s living standard by bringing about a new turn in the development of light industry the officials in the field of light industry should increase their responsibility and role.
Officials of the ministries and national institutions in the field of light industry should learn about and grasp in detail the overall situation of light industry and actual conditions of the units under them. On this basis they should command in a responsible manner the operations for solving knotty problems and bringing about a new turn in the development of light industry.
The officials in the field of light industry should reject stiffness, schema, stagnation and depression, work in a unique and resilient manner and shape reasonable management and business strategies to ensure expanded reproduction and reenergize production by their own efforts.
The officials should have ardent patriotism, value their own things and make positive efforts to develop them to be better than others’.
Scientists and technicians should solve scientific and technological issues arising in the on-going production in good time and, at the same time, study and round off innovative plans for producing raw materials for light industry locally and putting machines and equipment and production processes on a CNC and automation basis and develop more new varieties of light industrial products and functional goods.
The whole state should attach importance to light industry and channel great efforts into its development.
Various sectors and units of national economy should render positive help to the field of light industry, bearing in mind the Party’s intention to effect a turn in the people’s living in the shortest possible span of time.
The Party organizations should increase their roles in order to rapidly develop light industry.
We have not a few difficulties and bottlenecks at present but light industry has a bright prospect of its development.
As long as there are a solid foundation of light industry provided by President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il through all their lives’ dedication and the people intensely loyal to the Party’s leadership, a turn is sure to be effected in the development of the light industry and our people will fully enjoy wealth and glory under socialism without fail.
The Party Central Committee firmly believes that the officials and workers in the field of light industry will turn out with confidence of victory and bring about a new turn in its development.
Russian news agency ITAR-TASS reported on 13 March (Wednesday) that the DPRK was blocked from accessing the Internet. The several thousand DPRK citizens with dedicated connections experienced trouble accessing the Internet and a number of DPRK websites (such as KCNA the Korea Sports Foundation) on the (.kp) top-level domain [IDNccTLD] could be neither be accessed nor viewed. For several hours on 13 March, some state media sites on the (.kp) domain were viewable. On 11 March (Monday) the website for the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun had provided a message in Korean that said there were problems with its server. ITAR-TASS, which maintains a correspondent in Pyongyang, reported: “Access to the Internet was blocked in North Korea on Wednesday. According to an informed source, Internet resources of the country have come under a powerful hacker attack from abroad.”
DPRK Vice Premier Kim Yong Jin (R) reads a citation at the 2013 ceremony for the 16 February Science and Technology Prize at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on 6 February 2013 (Photo: KCNA)
DPRK state media reported on 6 February (Wednesday) that two academic award ceremonies were held in Pyongyang. The 16 February Science and Technology Prize held a ceremony at the People’s Palace of Culture to “ scientists, technicians, teachers, researchers and officials in the DPRK. . .[that] made tangible contributions to the development of the country’s science and technology, building an economic power and improving the people’s living standard.” Attending the ceremony were DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier (for Education) Kim Yong Jin, State Science and Technology Commission Chairman Choe Sang Gon, Chairman of the Education Commission Kim Sung Du and President of the State Academy of Sciences Jang Chol.
According to KCNA “certificates and medals of the prize were awarded to various units including the Mathematics Faculty of Kim Il Sung University, Kim Chaek University of Technology and the Heat Engineering Institute of the State Academy of Science,” “Certificates of the Scientific and Technological Innovation Prize were awarded to the Organic Chemistry Institute of the Hamhung Branch, the Central Experimental Analysis Institute and the Mathematics Institute of the State Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Koryo Medical Science,” and “certificates of the February 16 Science and Technology Prize and the Scientific and Technological Innovation Prize went to more than 90 scientists, technicians, teachers, researchers and officials including Myong Kum Chol, department head of Kim Il Sung University, Kang Yong Chol, room chief of the Rakwon Building Machine Design Institute at the Rakwon Machine Complex, and Mun Chang Won, teacher at Kim Chaek University of Technology.”
(Photos: KCNA)
Presentations and participants at 16 February Science and Technology Prize at the People’s Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on 6 February 2013 (Photos: KCNA)
Another ceremony that “awarded the state academic degrees and titles” to those “have made great contributions to building a thriving nation by waging a dynamic drive for pushing back the frontiers of latest science and technology, true to the dear respected Kim Jong Un’s idea of giving importance to science and technology.” The ceremony was held as part of commemorations of Kim Jong Il’s birth anniversary (16 February) was held, separately, the same day at the People’s Palace of Culture. KCNA reported that “Kim Song Gun, researcher of the Turf Institute of the State Academy of Sciences, and Kim Kwon Mu, researcher of the Forest of Economic Value Research Institute of the Ministry of Land and Environmental Conservation, were awarded the title of academician and that of candidate academician went to Kim Song Il, dean of a faculty of Kim Il Sung University” and “Jo Chol, vice-president of Kim Il Sung University, Pak Je Dong, room chief of University of National Economy, Ri Kyong Su, researcher of Kim Chaek University of Technology, and others were awarded academic title of professor.” Also, according to KCNA, “a doctor’s degree went to 38 persons including Yun Nam, head of a department of Kim Il Sung University, Kim Ryong Hwa, head of a department of Kim Chaek University of Technology, Ryom Song Chol, researcher of the Mathematics Research Institute of the State Academy of Sciences, and academic title of associate professor went to 127 others.”
The 16 February Science and Technology Prize ceremony received more prominent coverage in state media. The officials reported to have attended that ceremony are all leading officials of organizations involved the civilian research academic aspects of the DPRK nuclear community. One might also scan the names and find that some DPRK scientists linked to a possible forthcoming nuclear test are already receiving their state awards, regardless of the test’s outcome.
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (L) takes a photograph of the Chuch’e Tower (R) from the balcony of the Grand People’s Study House in Pyongyang (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)
DPRK state media aired a brief story (33 seconds) at the end of its 9 January (Wednesday) television newscast which showed former Governor Bill Richardson, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, Google Ideas Director Jared Cohen and members of their delegation touring the Grand People’s Study House in central Pyongyang. The television news story showed Richardson and members of the delegation visiting a circulation desk at the DPRK’s national library, using the library’s computer terminals and taking souvenir photographs of the Chuch’e Tower from the study house’s balcony.
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (2nd L) and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (3rd L) begin a tour of the Grand People’s Study House in central Pyongyang on 9 January 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrab)
The Richardson-Schmidt delegation visit an information desk at the Grand People’s Study House (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)
Google Ideas Director Jared Cohen uses a computer workstation during a tour of the Grand People’s Study House, the DPRK’s national library, on 9 January 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrab)
DPRK state media also aired a brief story (32 seconds) on Gov. Richardson, Mr. Schmidt and the delegation touring the E-Library at Kim Il Sung University toward the end of the 8 January (Tuesday) newscast.
Eric Schmidt (2nd L) talks with Bill Richardson (3rd L) during a tour of the E-Library at Kim Il Sung University. Also in attendance is Korea expert Dr. Tony Namkung (L) (Photo: KCTV screengrab)
Bill Richardson, Eric Schmidt and members of their delegation tour a classroom at the E-Library at Kim Il Sung University (Photo: KCTV screengrab)
Bill Richardson and Eric Schmidt (C) tour a lecture hall at Kim Il Sung University’s E-Library (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)
During its stay in the DPRK, the delegation met with several groups of DPRK officials, including a vice minister of foreign affairs, and visited the Korea Computer Center and the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun. With the exception of these two brief stories on Korean Central Television [KCTV] news and several short news items in DPRK print media, the delegation’s visit was a low-visibility event in DPRK state media reporting.
The delegation departed Pyongyang on 10 January (Thursday) and arrived in Beijing. Richardson said that DPRK officials assured him at one meeting that a 44-year old Korean American who was arrested and detained since early November 2012 was in good health and would soon be put on trial. Richardson also said that during an interaction with DPRK officials he asked the country to stop nuclear and missile testing. At a media availability in Beijing, Richardson and Schmidt said that they encouraged DPRK officials to expand access to the internet and cell ‘phones. According to The Guardian Richardson said that “The internet is important for the welfare of the North Korean people, to expand mobile technology, to expand cell phone use” and Schmidt remarked that “As the world becomes increasingly connected, their decision to be virtually isolated is very much going to affect their physical world, their economic growth and so forth, and it will make it harder for them to catch up economically.”
SPA Chairman and KWP Secretary Choe Tae Bok (L) meets with Deputy Speaker of the Great Hural of Mongolia Sangajav Bayartsogt (R) at the Government House in Ulan Bator on 18 November 2012 (Photo: Great Hural of Mongolia)
Mongolian media reported that Supreme People’s Assembly Chairman and Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary Choe Tae Bok (Choe T’ae-pok) arrived in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, on 18 November (Sunday), beginning a four day visit to the country. During trip Choe will meet with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Speaker (Chairman) of the Parliament (State Great Hural) Zandaakhuu Enkhbold and will visit the Mongolian industrial center of Darkhan-Uul aimag, the National University of Mongolia and its school for Science and Technology and the State Central Library of Mongolia.
Upon arriving at the airport Choe Tae Bok and the DPRK delegation was greeted by Deputy Parliament Speaker (chairman) Sangajav Bayartsogt and Mongolian Ambassador to the DPRK Manibadrakh Ganbold. During a meeting with Bayartsogt, who chairs the DPRK-Mongolia Parliamentary Group, Choe said, “Our two countries have friendly relationships since early times and I am glad the mutual cooperation has been growing. The North Korea-Japan bilateral talks held in Ulaanbaatar few days ago prove the friendly collaboration between the three nations.”
An overview of a wrestling competition between the DPRK University of Physical Education and the Nippon Sport Science University at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on 15 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
DPRK state media reported on 15 November (Thursday) that wrestling matches between the DPRK University of Physical Education and the Nippon Sport Science University here held at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium. Attending the matches were Pak Kun Gwang, Chairman of the DPRK-Japan Friendship Association and Deputy (vice) Director of the Korean Workers’ Party International Affairs Department, Son Kwang Ho, Vice Minister of Physical Culture and Sports, Sim Tong Gyu, Rector of the DPRK University of Physical Education, Kanji Inoki head of the Inoki Genome Federation (a.k.a Inoki Genome Joint Company) and members of his delegation, Kenshiro Matsunami of Nippon Sport Science University and members of that delegation, along with “officials concerned, wrestling experts and fans, Pyongyangites and students.”
Nippon Sport Science University delegation head Kenshiro Matsunami (R), Pak Kun Gwang (2nd R) and Kanji Inoki (3rd R) applaud while watching DPRK-Japan wrestling matches at Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on 15 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
Spectators at a wrestling competition between the DPRK University of Physical Education and the Nippon Sport Science University in Pyongyang on 15 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
According to KCNA, “wrestlers of the two universities displayed stubborn will and admirable energy, demonstrating high skills they acquired in day-to-day trainings” and “matches served as a momentum of contributing to the exchange and development of the techniques of physical culture between the two universities.”
KCNA also interviewed coaches and players from Nippon Sport Science University who participated in a soccer (football) match at Kim Il Sung Stadium on 14 November (Wednesday). Masakazu Suzuki, head of the Nippon team said “I think the match proceeded in a good way. Our team competed with the team of Korea University of Physical Education for the first time, so we had a poor grip of it. We are grateful to Pyongyang citizens and students for their cheering. This is the first time our team have a match in such a big stadium amid the cheering of many spectators. It was a good experience. I think the two universities can enrich their good experience through such exchanges in the future.” KCNA reported that Nippon player Junpei Arai ”said that the stadium is fine and spectators’ cheering was enthusiastic, adding that he had never had such admirable match in his country.” Nippon student Masaki Tanaka said “he was very happy to see many spectators enjoy the match with joy.”
Jang Song Taek (C) talks with Kanji Inoki (L) and Kenshiro Matsunami at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 14 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
DPRK state media reported on 15 November (Thursday) that Jang Song Taek (Chang So’ng-t’aek; Jang Song Thaek) met and talked with Kanji Inoki of the Inoki Genome Federation and Kenshiro Matsunami of Nippon Sport Science University, along with members of their respective delegations. KCNA reported that: “Jang Song Thaek, chairman of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, met and had conversations with Kanji Inoki, president of the Inoki Genom Joint Co., Ltd. of Japan, and his party and leading members of the visiting delegation of the Nippon Sport Science University Group led by President of its Educational Foundation Kenshiro Matsunami Wednesday.” Mr. Jang’s conversations with the Japanese delegations occurred at Kim Il Sung Stadium, where he and the delegations watched a soccer (football) match between DPRK and Japanese teams.
Jang Song Taek (C) talks with members of Japanese delegations from the Inoki Genome Federation (a.k.a. Inoki Genom Joint Company) and Nippon Sport Science University (Photo: KCNA)
Interestingly (and likely indicative of nothing) in both English and Korean reporting, Mr. Jang was identified as Chairman of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission and not by his other state or party positions.
Jang Song Taek (3rd R) and Kanji Inoki (4th R) watch a soccer (football) match between the DPRK University of Physical Education and the Nippon Sport Science University at Kim Il Sung Stadium on 14 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
DPRK state media reported on 14 November (Wednesday) that National Defense Commission Vice Chairman, Korean Workers’ Party Administration Department Director and State Physical Culture and Sports Commission Chairman Jang Song Taek (Chang So’ng-t’aek; Jang Song Thaek) watched a soccer (football) match between the DPRK University of Physical Education and players from the Nippon Sport Science University at Kim Il Sung Stadium.
A view of a soccer (football) match between the teams of the DPRK University of Physical Education and the Nippon Sport Science University at Kim Il Sung Stadium on 14 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
A view of Kim Il Sung Stadium in central Pyongyang, the venue for a 14 November 2012 soccer (football) match between teams of the DPRK University of Physical Education and the Nippon Sport Science University (Photo: KCNA)
(Photo: KCNA)
(Photo: KCNA)
(Photo: KCNA)
(Photo: KCNA)
Also watching the match were Minister of Physical Culture and Sports Ri Jong Mu, DPRK-Japan Friendship Association Chairman and KWP International Affairs Deputy (vice) Director Pak Kun Gwang, Rector of the DPRK University of Physical Education Sim Tong Gyu, Kanji Inoki and members of the Inoki Genome Federation delegation, Kenshiro Matsunami and members of the Nippon Sport Science University delegation, along with “football experts and fans and citizens and young people.” KCNA reported that the “two teams played the match well” and “spectators enthusiastically clapped their hands whenever the players showcased fantastic scoring chances.” Despite the exuberant atmosphere in Kim Il Sung Stadium “the game ended scoreless.”
Kenshiro Matsunami and a delegation of the Nippon Sport Science University tour Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm in Samso’k District, Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)
A delegation of the Nippon Sport Science University (L) tour Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm (R) in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)
The Japanese delegations have also visited several locales around Pyongyang during their stay. DPRK state media reported on 14 November that members of the Nippon Sport Science University delegation visited Kim Il Sung’s birthplace and childhood home in Mangyo’ngdae where they “looked round historic relics preserved there with care, while being briefed on the revolutionary history of the President and his family members,” according to KCNA. They also toured the Pyongyang Folk Park and the Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm.
Kanji Inoki (2nd L) of the Inoki Genome Federation and Kenshiro Matsunami (3rd L) of Nippon Sport Science University, deliver a floral basket to the KIS and KJI statues on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang on 14 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
Members of Japanese delegations of Inoki Genome Federation and Nippon Sport Science University pose for a commemorative photo in front of the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il statues on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang on 14 November 2012 (Photo: KCNA)
On Wednesday, the university’s delegation were joined by Kanji Inoki and members of the Inoki Genome Federation delegation, in delivering a floral basket to the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il statues on Mansu Hill in central Pyongyang.
