Avian Influenza Outbreak at Duck Farm in Pyongyang

The Pyongyang Tudan Duck Farm in east Pyongyang, where an outbreak of avian flu was discovered in mid-April 2013 (Photos: Google image and KCNA/FLPH file photo)

An outbreak of a new strain of avian influenza (H5N1) has been found in the DPRK.  On 19 April 2013, the outbreak was discovered in one cage of ducks at the Pyongyang Tudan Duck Farm who exhibited symptoms  of avian flu.  After the initial cage of infected ducks began to die, cages of ducks were tested by the Central Veterinary Station (a national laboratory subordinated to the State Academy of Sciences) on 2 May 2013 and revealed that 20 cages of ducks were infected with avian flu.  Approximately 164,000 ducks died from avian flu or were killed.  The outbreak of avian flue at the Tudan Duck Farm was later corroborated by a second round of tests conducted by the Veterinary Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences (subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture).  On 13 May 2013 the DPRK Ministry of Agriculture’s Anti-Epizootic Department submitted a formal notification of the avian flu outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health.  Since the initial outbreak, DPRK authorities moved to quarantine and cull infected animals, control the shipment of livestock inside the country and test other animals for the disease.  The outbreak of H5N1 has been speculatively linked to the ducks’ contact with wild birds or animals.  The summary of the DPRK’s report to the World Organization for Animal Health can be read here [PDF].

On 14 May 2013, KCNA interviewed two DPRK officials, Pak Myong Su from the Ministry of Public Health and Jon Song Hun from the Korea Pugang Pharmaceutical Company, on the development of a drug called Kumdang-2 which was touted an effective vaccination against human cases of avian flu.  According to the interview:

Question: Please tell me about danger of virus H7N9 and measures for prevention of infection.

Pak: The virus had been known to be low in toxicity with the cause and way of its infection uncertain, but later it was confirmed through gene analysis that it has a highly infectious toxicity.

With an increasing number of people infected or dead by this virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for taking strict measures against the spread of the virus.

What is most important for people is to enhance their immunity, while taking anti-epidemic measures.

Patients, infected with epidemics including the bird flu, are all weak in immunity. Therefore, it is advisable to take medicines helpful to enhancing immunity.

Q: I know that Kumdang-2 Injection, manufactured by the Korea Pugang Pharmaceutic Co., Ltd., has been considered worldwide to be one of highly effective adjuvants.

Jon: As early as in 2003, WHO warned that various strains of epidemic flu viruses would sweep throughout the world and inflict enormous damages on mankind, while calling for development of medicines to prevent infection of all strains of influenza viruses.

After many years of research and clinical trials, the Korea Pugang Pharmaceutic Co., Ltd. made Kumdang-2 Injection composed of the compounds of insam saccharides plus REE (rare earth elements) as main component and micro quantities of gold and platinum.

Kumdang-2 Injection, once injected into a living body, stimulates hypothalamus, the human body’s supreme nerve system, thereby optimizing its immune system as a whole, and boosts over 16 times the capacity of generating the interferon, the anti-virus effects whereof are so strong and wide that it can oppress the severe new flu virus, too.

Kumdang-2 Injection has enjoyed great popularity for its wonderful effects and many countries widely use it as not only immune activators but high-quality medicine, much more efficacious than antibiotics.

According to the clinical records, three rounds of its injection in every five minutes kill influenza virus H1N1.

On 18 May 2013, Rodong Sinmun published a fairly detailed account about what the central authorities were doing to deal with the outbreak of avian flu.  After the discovery of the outbreak in April, according to Rodong, Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) “gave precious instruction on establishing thorough measures to ensure that bird flu does not come into our country, emergency anti-epidemic committees that include senior functionaries in relevant sectors were organized in every province, city (district), and county.”  Rodong also reported that “functionaries of the National Emergency Anti-Epidemic Commission are highly upholding the noble intent of the respected and beloved marshal, who always gives great attention to promoting the people’s health, and meticulously planning and coordinating organization work to ensure that patients with the new type of bird flu do not occur.”  The regional and local anti-epidemic committees “go deep among the masses and inform them in a mobile manner of issues that arise in pro-actively conducting this work, they are putting great effort into actively utilizing a variety of means to ensure the normalization of hygiene propaganda and examination work.”

Late DPRK supreme leader Kim Jong Il visits the Tudan Duck Farm in October 2011 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

Authorities of the Ministry of Public Health “sent explanatory and dialogue lecture materials on preventing the new type of bird flu to various places nationwide in a short time, and they are actively establishing measures to conduct hygiene propaganda and examination work at a high level for people on site.”  During late April, according to Rodong, “Ministry of Public Health functionaries and approximately 1,000 medical functionaries from various treatment and prevention organs, beginning with the Pyongyang University of Medicine at Kim Il Sung University, performed hygiene propaganda activities for well over 40,000 households in the capital, and hundreds of medical functionaries did so for citizens at dozens of spots along major bus routes.” From late April to mid-May Rodong reported that “many youths, students, and medical functionaries went out to people’s houses, coal mines, and farm villages and carried out hygiene propaganda for approximately 300,000 workers, and thousands of medical functionaries conducted examinations and checkups for nearly 500,000 people” and that “hygiene propaganda activities by social hygiene propaganda forces and propaganda vehicles such as the Youth League Central Committee and Education Committee are being actively conducted through various formats and methods.”  The informational campaign “activities are being carried out nationwide for an average of millions of workers at every level each day, and employees working at farms everywhere are receiving examinations and checkups by medical functionaries running clinics.”

The Ministry of Public Health and other central authorities were also taking practical measures to contain the avian flu outbreak.  Rodong Sinmun reported that “work to establish hygienic and cultural living environments and working conditions is being launched more vigorously than at any time before at various places nationwide, and medical functionaries at the Central Hygienic and Anti-Epidemic Station and provincial, city (district), and county hygiene and anti-epidemic stations are going down to their areas of responsibility and actively carrying out preventive work” and that “under the state’s unitary guidance, emergency anti-epidemic measures that can immediately eradicate bird flu if it appears in their particular area are thoroughly established now at every province, city (district), and county.”  Rodong also reported that “party members and workers everywhere are embracing a burning enthusiasm to display the superiority of our country’s socialist public health system that makes prevention its basis under the wise leadership of the respected and beloved marshal, and they are continuing to vigorously wage the struggle to prevent damage from bird flu in advance.”

Kim Jong Un Visits Turf Institute at State Academy of Sciences

Kim Jong Un (1) visiting the Turf Institute of the Bioengineering Branch of the State Academy of Sciences. Also in attendance are VMar Choe Ryong Hae (2) and Choe Tae Bok (3) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 5 May (Sunday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the Turf Institute of the Bioengineering Branch of the State Academy of Sciences.  KJU’s last observed public appearance was his attendance at May Day-themed concert of the U’nhasu Orchestra at the People’s Theater in central Pyongyang.  Joining Kim Jong Un for his visit to the Turf Institute were Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Supreme People’s Assembly Chairman Choe Tae Bok and KWP Deputy (vice) Department Directors Pak T’ae-so’ng and Hwang Pyong So.

The Turf Institute, which was the locale of previous visits by senior government and party officials, was described as “newly constructed by soldiers.”  Kim Jong Un visited the institute’s main building where he “was pleased to see the green-tiled outer wall” and he “praised the soldier-builders for erecting the monument to the institute in an imposing manner.”  KJU toured the institute’s exhibition of its accomplishments, various research facilities, a study center and its e-library.  Kim Jong Un noted “research rooms and laboratories were built well to suit the nature of the institute” and “he underscored the need to take measures for providing it with necessary equipment and scientific and technological information.”  He also toured the institute’s commissary and living quarters of its employees.

Kim Jong Un (1) talks with managers of the Turf Institute of the State Academy of Sciences during a visit there. (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un toured the Turf Institute’s research greenhouse where he saw “various species of turf being cultivated.”  According to KCNA, KJU said “what is essential in the research into turf is to cultivate turf which remains green all the year round, strong in resistance to cold and treading and high in ornamental effect.”  KJU also toured experimental plots of turf “comprising the experimental field for species, experimental field for seed-selection and vegetative propagation, experimental field for turf cutting and other fields” where he “called for conducting research into species suited to the areas distinct in four seasons and different in their climatic conditions.”  Kim Jong Un also instructed that regional offices of the Turf Institute be established in the east, west and central areas of the DPRK.  KJU also looked at several species of turf  and instructed that additional research be conducted into developing grass that is green throughout the year.  Kim Jong Un also spoke of “the need to plant trees, create grassland and cultivate flowers and other plants in all lands except the cultivated land so that there may be no land left waste or overgrown with weed.”  KJU also inspected “various type machines including those for collecting turf seeds, sowing them and cutting turf and a ground-stiffening roller machine contrived and manufactured by the Academy”  and “called for widely applying them.”  According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said he “would send modern equipment for researches to the institute” and he “underscored the need to turn the country into a socialist thriving nation and make it richer and more beautiful for the people by dynamically conducting the land management under a long-term plan.”

Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry Established

Haeun-2-dong, P’yo’ngch’o'n District, Pyogyang where the offices of the General Department of Atomic Energy are presently located. (Photo: geocoordinates courtesy of the DPRK Digital Atlas; Google image)

DPRK reported on 12 April (Friday) that the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium established the Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry on 11 April (Thursday).  According to KCNA the General Department of Atomic Energy was upgraded to a DPRK Cabinet ministry “for the purpose of modernizing the nation’s atomic energy industry and putting it on a solid foundation of latest science and technology so as to increase the production of nuclear materials, improve their quality and further develop the independent nuclear energy industry.”  The establishment of the new ministry is part of the new policy lines adopted at the March 2013 Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee meeting which said the “”self-reliant nuclear power industry should be developed and the work for developing light water reactor be dynamically promoted to actively contribute to easing the strain on the electricity problem of the country.”  The ministry might also be linked to the 1 April 2013 passage of the law “On Consolidating the Position of Nuclear Weapons for Self-Defense” at the 7th session of the 12th SPA.   In publicizing the decision to establish the Ministry of Atomic Energy Industry, there was no announcement about who would be appointed as Minister.

Central Leadership Visits Light Industry Exhibition

Senior members of the central leadership tour an exhibition of light industry goods in Pyongyang. Among the officials in this image are: Choe Tae Bok (5th R), Kim Yong Nam (4th R) Yang Hyong Sop (3rd R) and Pak To Chun (2nd R) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 22 March (Friday) that members of the DPRK’s central political leadership toured an exhibition of light industry goods being held at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang on 20 and 22 March.  Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim, Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and SPA Chairman Choe Tae Bok, KWP Secretary Pak To Chun and SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop toured the exhibition of what KCNA reported were “142.000 items of consumer goods produced by light industrial establishments in Pyongyang and local areas,” saw “exhibition stands fully stacked with vinalon products, velvet cloth, shoes, seasonal clothes, sportswear, foodstuffs, cosmetics and household utensils” and “popular among visitors were products from provincial combined foodstuff factories and Ch’angso’ng County which made big contributions to producing consumer goods by developing local industry.”  According to KCNA “those consumer goods produced through the creative ingenuity of masses and the tapping of internal reserves clearly proved the validity and vitality of the August 3 Consumer Goods Production Movement. “

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (foreground, R) tours an exhibition of light industry goods at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

The 3 August Consumer Goods Production Movement was initiated on 3 August 1984 when the late supreme leader Kim Jong Il inspected the Pyongyang City Light Industrial Goods Exhibition.  According to one of his official biographies, “this movement prvoed very viable because it sharply increased the production of various consumer goods and relied on the masses’ intelligence and creativity.  Comrade Kim Jong Il suggested party organizations push on powerfully with the movement.  In May 1986 he paid a high tribute to P’yo’ngchon District, Pyongyang, as an exemplary unit and its experience generalized across the country.”

Kim Jong Un Attends Photo Op with Participants in Light Industry Workers’ National Meeting

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 Speaks at Light Industry Workers’ National Meeting

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.

DPRK Premier Visits Sites in Kangwon Province

Choe Yong Rim visits the Sep’o Tableland project in Kangwo’n Province (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 16 March (Saturday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim visited the Munp’yo’ng Smeltery, the Sep’o Tableland (grasslands) and several cooperative farms in Kangwo’n Province.  Choe visited the Sep’o Tableland, a project of Korean People’s Army [KPA] personnel.  He toured several area of the tableland project “to encourage the service persons and members of shock brigade in their drive for carrying out the great nature-transforming project.”  He held a meeting with managers and employees of the project, a grasslands reclamation project for livestock.  According to KCNA Choe “recalled that the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un unrolled a gigantic plan to reclaim the Sepho tableland for providing better living conditions to the people and is wisely leading this drive with deep loving care” and he “underlined the need for all officials, service persons and members of shock brigade to finish the reclamation project in the spirit of “At one go” and took measures for settling issues arising in the project.”

Choe also visited the Namchang Cooperative Farm, the Pisan Cooperative Farm and the Anbyon Potash Fertilizer Factory.  According to KCNA Choe “called on all farms to increase the production of quality organic compound fertilizer, while boosting the production of livestock products through the introduction of cyclic production system and on the fertilizer factories to radically lift the production for the purpose of attaining the grain production goal this year without fail.”

Choe Yong Rim visits a cooperative farm in Anbyo’n County, Kwangwo’n Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (R) talks with light industry workers participating in a national meeting, whilst visiting their Pyongyang accommodations (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

On 14 March, DPRK state media reported that Choe visited the Pyongyang accommodations of participants in a national meeting of light industry workers.

Choe visit to Kangwo’n Province occurred as South Korean (ROK) media reported that strategic rocket units under Wo’nsan Corps test launched two KN-02 short-range missiles “into the East Sea.”  It was not clear when or where the KN-02 launches took place, however KN-02 testing has occurred or was planned at test sites in and around Anbyo’n County, where Choe was reported to be present.  Given the Sep’o Tableland project labor has been supplied by the KPA, it is likely Choe inspected other KPA activities in the area and observed the KN-02 test launches.  Choe may also have inspected preparations for upcoming large-scale joint military exercises by the KPA, which will reportedly be staged from Kangwo’n Province, along the DPRK’s East Coast.

Overview of areas in Kangwon Province visited by DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim, including the possibility he observed test launches of KN-02 short-range missiles (Photo: Google image)

DPRK Internet Access Blocked

(KCTV file screengrab)

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.”

Nuclear Test Personnel Visit Ku’msusan and Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery After Arriving in Pyongyang

Personnel who contributed to or participated in the 12 February 2013 nuclear test pay their respects at the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pyongyang on 21 February 2013 (Photos: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 21 February that personnel involved in the 12 February 2013 nuclear test visited the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun and paid their respects at the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery on Mt. Taeso’ng in Pyongyang.  According to KCNA “scientists, technicians, workers, soldier-builders and officials who took part in the successful third underground nuclear test visited” Ku’msusan where they paid their respects to the remains of the late DPRK founder and president, Kim Il Sung, and the late supreme leader Kim Jong Il.  After visiting the remains of the two leaders they toured “the halls where the orders the Generalissimos received are on display and the halls which house cars, an electric car, a boat and train coaches used by them for field guidance and foreign tour till the last period of their lives.”

Personnel involved in the DPRK’s third nuclear test visit the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pyongyang on 21 February 2013 (Photo: KCNA)

The nuclear test personnel also brought floral bouquets and visited the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery.  DPRK state media reported that they placed floral bouquets beneath the bronze memorial bust of Kim Jong Suk, wife of Kim Il Sung and mother of Kim Jong Il and Kim Kyong Hui.  After paying their respects to Kim Jong Suk, according to KCNA, “they also laid a wreath and bouquets on the wreath-laying stand of the cemetery and paid silent tribute to anti-Japanese revolutionary martyrs.”

On 21 February the scientists, technicians, construction workers, KPA service members and others who contributed to the country’s third experimental nuclear detonation received a congratulatory message sent on behalf of the Party Central Military Commission and the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC] which “said that the recent nuclear test fully demonstrated the excellent performance of the nuclear deterrence of the DPRK that has been diversified, and the technology of manufacturing nuclear weapons of Military-First (So’ngun) Korea that has reached a cutting-edge level.”  According to KCNA the joint CMC-NDC message also said:

The underground nuclear test conducted by the DPRK in the wake of its successful launch of satellite Kwangmyo’ngsong 3-2 represented a great political and military victory as it made the international community confidently recognize the status of the DPRK as a strategic rocket and nuclear weapons state and brought about a fundamental change in the world political structure and the balance of forces.

People in the field of national defence science carried out the test, exercise of the independent right of the country, thus dealing sledge-hammer blows at the U.S. imperialists, Japanese reactionaries and the south Korean puppet forces who are working with bloodshot eyes to force the DPRK to “disarm itself” and to “overturn its social system”, the message added.

It highly appreciated the scientists, technicians, workers and officials in the field of national defence science and soldier-builders who have made great contributions to winning a great victory in the all-out confrontation with the U.S. imperialists and its allies, and safeguarding the supreme interests of the DPRK.

It is firm determination and will of the dear respected Kim Jong Un to finally conclude the confrontation with the U.S. imperialists by dint of arms of Songun [military-first] and build the strongest power which the whole world looks up and a people’s paradise on this land, the message stressed.

It expressed the conviction that the scientists, technicians, workers and officials in the field of national defence science and soldier-builders would win one victory after another, closely united around Supreme Commander Marshal Kim Jong Un.

A motor coach ferrying personnel involved in the DPRK’s third underground nuclear test passes through Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang on 20 February 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

KWP Secretary Pak To Chun (L) and Deputy (vice) Director of the KWP Machine-Building Industry Department [MID] Hong Sung Mu (2nd L) greet participants and contributors to the 12 February 2013 nuclear test, as they arrive at the Koryo Hotel in Pyongyang on 20 February 2013. The MID was one of the key organizations involved in the technical and logistical aspects of the country’s third underground nuclear test (Photo: KCTV screengrab)

The nuclear test personnel arrived in Pyongyang on 20 February (Wednesday).  Pyongyangites lined the streets as the nuclear test personnel’s motor coaches (buses) motorcaded throughout Pyongyang before arriving at the nuclear test personnel’s accommodation at the Koryo Hotel.  Kyodo World Service reported on 20 February on the nuclear testers’ arrival: “Korean Central Television footage showed citizens lined up on major streets to welcome visitors arriving in buses. A large banner displayed at the lobby of the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel, which they are staying, reads, ‘Successful third underground nuclear test!’  According to the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, which caters to domestic radio listeners, nuclear scientists and others visited bronze statues of former leader Kim Jong Il and his father and state founder Kim Il Sung on Mansu Hill in the heart of Pyongyang.”  According to KCNA, after arriving at the Koryo the personnel were greeted by Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary for Machine-Building Industry Pak To Chun, KWP Secretary and Director of Propaganda and Agitation [publicity and information] Kim Ki Nam and senior managers of the KWP Machine-Building Industry Department.