Choe Yong Rim Visits Iron and Steel Complex, Attends Trade Fair

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (4th R) visits the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex in Songrim, North Hwanghae Province, on 15 May 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on Wednesday (16 May) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim inspected the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex on Tuesday (15 May).  KCNA reports:

The workers of the complex are making achievements in updating it and producing heavy-duty rails true to the behests of leader Kim Jong Il.

Going round gas generation and high temperature air combustion heating process and various other places, the premier learned in detail about the progress made in updating the complex and held a consultative meeting.

The meeting discussed the issues of implementing the WPK’s policy on modernizing railways and replacing the existing rails with heavy-duty ones, pushing forward the updating of the complex and keeping rail production going at a high rate. It took measures to ensure that relevant units satisfactorily ensure the supply of raw and other materials needed for production.

The premier got familiar with the management and operation of the hostel and supply service.

Stressing the need for the officials to provide the workers with convenience on a priority basis and take good care of their living, by learning from the dear respected Kim Jong Un’s noble outlook on the people. He took measures to complete the construction of dwelling houses as early as possible.

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (3rd L) talks to a vendor at the 15th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair, during a 15 May 2012 tour (Photo: KCNA)

Later in the day, Choe visited the the 15th Spring International Trade Fair being held at the Three Revolutions’ Exhibition in Pyongyang.

The premier also visited the 15th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair on the same day. He underlined the need to positively develop the bilateral and multilateral cooperation among countries and regions in the economic and trade fields.

View of opening ceremony of the 15th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair. The ceremony was held on 14 May (Monday) (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK Vice Premier and KWP Political Bureau Member, Kang Sok Ju (2nd L) is briefed on products displayed at the spring trade fair on 14 May (Photo: KCNA)

Pyongyang’s 15th Spring International Trade Fair, scheduled from 14 thru 17 May, displays the products of companies from 14 different countries.  On Monday (14 May) the trade fair had its opening ceremony.  KCNA reports:

Present at the opening ceremony were Kang Sok Ju, vice-premier of the DPRK, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, and others, delegations of different countries and regions and diplomatic envoys of various countries and staff members of foreign embassies here.

A congratulatory speech by O Ryong Chol, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, followed an inaugural speech made by Kim Mun Jong, president of the Korean International Exhibition Corporation.

Speakers welcomed delegations of different countries and regions participating in the fair.

They said that the fair is a prestigious international economic gathering which reflects the desire and wish of mankind to establish a new international economic order based on independence and achieve the common prosperity and development.

He hoped that they would make good achievements through broad contacts and positive trade dealings.

They declared the DPRK would in the future, too, further expand and develop bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fields of economy and trade with all countries and regions on the principle of equality and mutual benefit.

At the end of the ceremony, the participants looked round products from companies of the DPRK, Netherlands, Germany, Bulgaria, Switzerland, the UK, Austria, Italy, Finland, Poland, Australia, Malaysia, Mongolia, China and Taipei of China.

The fair will last till May 17.

KPA Delegation Meets Lao President and Returns Home

Lao President Choummaly Sayasone (R) meets with VMar Ri Yong Ho, chief of the KPA General Staff and Presidium Member of the KWP Political Bureau on 11 May 2012 (Photo: KPL)

DPRK and Lao state media reported on 11 May (Friday) that a Korean People’s Army [KPA] delegation headed by VMar Ri Yong Ho, chief of the KPA General Staff, met with Lao President Choummaly Sayasone.  KCNA reports:

Choummaly Sayasone, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on Friday met and had a friendly talk with the DPRK high- ranking military delegation headed by Vice Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, which paid a courtesy call on him.

Choummaly Sayasone said that the friendly relations between Laos and the DPRK provided by President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Kim Il Sung have a long history.

These friendly relations have grown stronger thanks to leader Kim Jong Il, he noted.

He underlined the need to make positive efforts to deepen the friendship between the armies of Laos and the DPRK in the future.

VMar Ri Yong Ho shakes hands with an LPA official prior to departing Laos for the DPRK on 11 May 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

VMar Ri and the KPA delegation departed for the DPRK on their chartered plane later in the day.  KCNA reports:

The DPRK high-ranking military delegation headed by Vice-Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, left Vientiane on Friday after visiting the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos.

A farewell ceremony was held for the delegation before leaving.

During its stay in Laos the delegation toured Kaysone Phomvihane Military Academy, a power station, etc.

KPA Delegation Meets Lao Prime Minister

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (R) talks with VMar Ri Yong Ho (L), chief of the KPA General Staff and Presidium Member of the KWP Political Bureau, on 9 May 2012 (Photo: KPL)

DPRK and Lao state media reported on 10 May (Thursday) that a Korean People’s Army [KPA] delegation led by VMar Ri Yong Ho (Ri Yo’ng-ho), Chief of the KPA General Staff, met Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on Wednesday (9 May).  KCNA reports:

Laos highly appreciates the achievements made by the party, government and army of the DPRK in building a thriving socialist nation and defending the country under the wise leadership of the great leaders, said Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong when receiving the DPRK’s high-ranking military delegation.

The delegation headed by Vice Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, paid a courtesy call on the prime minister of Laos on Wednesday.

At the meeting, Thongsing Thammavong, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, said the DPRK delegation’s visit provided an important opportunity of boosting the friendly relations between the two armies.

Leader Kim Jong Il developed the friendly ties between Laos and the DPRK provided by President Kim Il Sung, the prime minister noted.

The dear respected Kim Jong Un pays much attention to the development of the bilateral friendly relations, he added.

 Also, the same day, the KPA delegation met with Lao Vice Minister of Defense Sanyahak Phomvihane and other Lao People’s Army officials.

Attending the meeting were members of the high ranking military delegation headed by chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho and the DPRK ambassador to Laos from the DPRK side and members of the Lao military delegation headed by Vice-Minister of Defense Sanyahak Phomvihane from the Lao side.

The two side exchanged views on further developing the friendly relations between the armies of the two countries and matters of mutual concern.

There was a welcome ceremony for the DPRK military delegation at the building of the Lao defense ministry on the same day.

The DPRK delegation laid a wreath before the Monument to Unknown Soldiers.

The Lao Ministry of Defense and the LPA also hosted a reception for the KPA delegation

Present there on invitation were members of the delegation led by Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, and the DPRK ambassador to Laos.

Also attending the reception were Vice-Minister of Defence Sanyahak Phomvihane, a deputy director of the General Political Department and the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army and other military officials.

An art performance was given by artistes of Laos at the reception.

KPA Delegation Travels to Laos

Chief of the KPA General Staff VMar Ri Yong Ho shakes hands with Col. Gen. O Kum Chol (2nd R), prior to departing for an official visit to Laos. (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 8 May (Tuesday) that VMar Ri Yong Ho, chief of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Staff, and a KPA delegation departed for an official visit to Laos.  KCNA did not disclose how long the KPA delegation would stay in Laos.  The delegation also includes Gen. Pak Jae Gyong, vice minister of the People’s Armed Forces and deputy director of the KPA General Political Department (bureau), and Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song, deputy director of the KPA General Propaganda Department.  Gen. Pak visited Laos in March 2011.

VMar Ri Yong Ho (C) and Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (L) (Photo: KCNA)

KCNA reports:

A high-ranking military delegation of the DPRK headed by Vice Marshal of the Korean People’s Army Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chief of the General Staff of the KPA, left here to visit Laos on May 8.

The delegation was seen off at the airport by Kang Phyo Yong, vice-minister of the People’s Armed Forces, O Kum Chol, deputy chief of the General Staff of the KPA, generals and officers of the KPA, Ambassador Kiettisak Keobanhdith and staff members of the Lao embassy here.

A senior delegation of the Lao People’s Army visited the DPRK in late July 2011, and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone visited Pyongyang in September 2011 which marked Kim Jong Un’s first reported public interaction with a foreign head of state.  Last week, a delegation of the Lao National Assembly visited the DPRK from 3 to 5 May. During its stay, the head of the Lao delegation Pany Yathortu met with Korean Workers’ Party Secretary and Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Chairman Choe Tae Bok and other officials.

KMS-3 to be Discussed at ASEAN

Senior ASEAN officials pose for a group photo session prior to the Preparatory Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials (Prep-SOM) at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh today under the chairmanship of H.E. Ms. Soeung Rathchavy, Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. (Photo: Kan Sona/AKP)

The DPRK’s launch of the U’nha-3 rocket and its reported payload Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-3 [KMS-3] will be discussed during ASEAN meetings this week in Phnom Penh.  AFP reports:

Southeast Asian nations will discuss North Korea’s planned rocket launch at a summit this week, ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuwan said Sunday, after the Philippines lodged diplomatic protests over the matter.

“The foreign ministers are taking up that issue tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,” he told reporters in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, where officials are preparing for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“I think we are all very concerned that any instability in the peninsula will lead to further possibility potential for (an) arms race, for nuclearisation of the region, which will not be good for the region as a whole,” Surin told reporters when asked about ASEAN’s position on the launch.

“And it will certainly affect trade confidence, investment in the region, including in ASEAN,” he added.

Pyongyang announced last month it would launch a rocket between April 12-16 to place a satellite in orbit, sparking alarm in the region.

The United States and other nations say the planned launch is a disguised ballistic missile test, and would breach a UN ban on North Korean missile launches.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said earlier on Sunday his country had filed diplomatic protests about the launch to Pyongyang representatives at the UN, in China, and in fellow ASEAN member states.

Del Rosario also said he intends the raise his country’s stance on the launch at the annual ASEAN summit, a two-day meeting which starts in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, though foreign ministers will begin talks early on Monday.

A top US diplomat has previously said that debris from the launch are expected to land off the Philippines, an archipelago made up of thousands of islands.

Gone Diplorellin’

DPRK Ambassador to Germany Ri Si Hong (Photo: Welt)

Among the felonies, misdemeanors and minor trespasses committed by the DPRK’s diplomatic corps, this may rank as one of the most memorable.  On 15 January (Sunday) police in Berlin caught DPRK Ambassador to Germany, Ri Si Hong, fishing without a license.   Spiegel‘s online edition citing Berliner Morgenpost and other press reports:

According to reports in dailies Berliner Morgenpost and BZ, Berlin police discovered a man fishing on the Havel River in the city’s Spandau neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. When the officials asked to see the man’s fishing license, he apparently responded by saying he was the North Korean ambassador.

According to the reports, the angler did not have any proof of identity on him, nor did he have a fishing license. The police then asked their colleagues to bring them a current photograph of the ambassador and his personal details. When they arrived, the officers reportedly confirmed that the man was indeed the ambassador, Si Hong Ri, who took his current position in September 2011.

The officers then apparently told the ambassador to cease his illegal fishing activities. According to the police report quoted by the Berliner Morgenpost and the BZ, “the ambassador politely acknowledged (the request) with a smile and continued with the offense.” The police were unable to do anything, given the man’s diplomatic immunity.

When contacted by SPIEGEL ONLINE on Thursday, a Berlin police spokesman confirmed that a report had been filed on Sunday but declined to comment on the identity of the person involved. Fishing without a license is a crime in Germany punishable with up to two years in prison or a fine.

Meanwhile, recently appointed DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia, Hong Ki Chol, met with the Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs (and Deputy Prime Minister) Hor Namhong on 13 January (Friday).  During the meeting they discussed a potential visit to the DPRK by Hor Namhong, as well as Hong Ki Chol’s attendance at the ASEAN Regional Forum [ARF] which will be held in Phnom Penh in July.  The Cambodian press pointed out that Hong’s meeting with Hor Namhong occurred two days after ASEAN held a closed ministerial meeting to prepare for ARF.

DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia, Hong Ki Chol (L) meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong (R) in Phnom Penh on 13 January 2012 (Photo: Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation)

DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia Appointed

Outgoing DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia Ri In Sok (L) meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on 24 November 2011 (Photo: AKP)

The Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium has appointed Hong Ki Chol the new DPRK’s new ambassador to Cambodia on 28 November.  Hong has previously served as Consul General in Hong Kong, among other diplomatic/MOFA positions.  Hong replaces Ri In Sok who had served as ambassador since 2007.  Ri In Sok has made several official visits prior to his departure.  On 29 November, Ri met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.  On 23 November, Cambodian media reported that Ri met with the president of the Kingdom of Cambodia’s Senate (Protsaphea), Chea Sim, and later that day, with the president of its National Assembly (Radhsaphea) Heng Samrin.  On 24 November Ri met with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.  During this meeting Ri discussed the DPRK’s construction of a culture and information center near Angkor Wat, a project under development since 2009 which includes two managers and some 60 DPRK experts and workers.  Agence Kampuchea Presse reports:

In a meeting on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Sok An told the North Korean Ambassador H.E. Ri In Sok that Cambodia’s Apsara Authority is working with North Korean experts to build the centre, which will serve as a welcome centre for tourists who want information about Cambodia’s Angkorian history.

Officials of the Apsara Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap are working with 60 Korean experts and concerned institutions to ensure that the building design will feature the cultural values of both Cambodia and Korea.

The building, 70 metres in diameter and 124 metres in height, will be decorated with artistic works and drawings. Korean officials say that the world’s biggest artistic drawing will be displayed at the centre.

Dr. Sok An, who is also Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, told the ambassador that the centre will represent not only the image of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea but also the good bilateral relations of the two Asian nations.

The outgoing North Korean Ambassador Ri In Sok, who is leaving Cambodia on Nov. 26 after a four-year term, told Dr. Sok An that North Korea wants unification with South Korea as soon as possible.

The ambassador was grateful to the deputy prime minister and the Royal Government of Cambodia as a whole for facilitating his diplomatic mission in Cambodia.

“I am pleased with the bilateral cooperation. I am pleased with the tremendous progress made by Cambodia over the past years,” said Ambassador Ri In Sok in the meeting.

KPA Political Delegation Visits Vietnam

KPA Navy Political Bureau Director, Col. Gen. O Chol San (L), shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (R), head of the VPA General Politics Department on 28 October 2011 in Hanoi (Photo: VPA Newspaper/VNA)

A delegation of KPA political officers, part of the KPA General Political Department (also known as the General Political Bureau) visited Vietnam during 26 to 28 October.  The delegation departed the DPRK on 25 October (Wednesday) headed by Col. Gen. O Chol San, director of the KPA Navy (KPN) Political Bureau.  According to Vietnam News Agency Col. Gen. O and the KPA delegation met with the high command of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) and visited the VPN political school, the Naval Institute and the command element of the VPA’s 7th Military Zone (region).  On 28 October  the delegation attended a reception hosted by Lt. Gen Ngo Xuan Lich, chief of the VPA General Politics Department.  Vietnam People’s Army Newspaper reported:

At the reception, General Lich confirmed that the Party, the State, Army and people of Vietnam always keep in mind the support from the DPRK’s Party, State, Army and people during Vietnam’s resistance war against foreign invaders.

The cooperation relationship between the two armies, especially the two General Politics Departments, has remarkably developed over the past years. In the coming time, as General Lich said, the two sides should tighten their cooperation, mainly in Party and political affairs.

According to General Lich, several fields needed to be focused on by both General Politics Departments, including military exchanges in culture and arts, experiences on educating the tradition, army missions at all levels for officers, and training for cadets.

For his part, General O Chol San highly appreciated Vietnam’s achievements during the renewal process and expressed his deep admiration for the heroic tradition of Vietnam People’s Army.

General O Chol San also highly spoke of solid politics and the regularity and discipline of some units that the delegation had visited. He added that the DPRK People’s Army would learn and promote Vietnamese experiences in political education and army building.

In addition to serving as the head of political indoctrination and surveillance in the KPA Navy, O Chol San is an alternate (candidate) member of the Party Central Committee, elected in September 2010.  He was promoted to Colonel General on Kim Il-song’s Birthday (Sun’s Day) in April 2010.  This promotions list included a number of KPA general-grade officers, like Col. Gen. O, who have been appointed to key management positions in the DPRK’s national security community during 2007 to 2010.  O Chol San was also reported by DPRK media on 17 March 2011 to have attended Kim Jong Il’s visit to an industrial plant affiliated with KPA Navy Unit #597.

This was the second official trip to Vietnam by a KPA delegation in 2011.  Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (Pak Chae-kyo’ng), Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, led a nine (9) member delegation that visited Vietnam during 24-25 March 2011, as part of a tour of southeast Asian countries.

Laotian People’s Army Delegation Visits DPRK

Chief of the KPA General Staff and co-Vice-Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, Ri Yong Ho (front row, 5th L) poses for a photograph with a visiting delegation of the Laotion People's Army (Photo: KCNA)

A delegation of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army visited the DPRK from 27 to 29 July.  The delegation met and had a commemorative photograph taken with Chief of the KPA General Staff, Ri Yong Ho (Ri Yo’ng-ho).  The Laotian delegation’s primary interlocutor and host during their stay was Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (Pak Chae-kyo’ng).  Pak visited Laos in March of this year in a tour of southeast Asian countries.  KCNA reports:

Talks between a military delegation of the Korean People’s Army and a delegation of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army took place in Pyongyang on Thursday.

Present there from the DPRK side were Pak Jae Gyong, vice-minister of the People’s Armed Forces, generals and officers of the KPA and from the Lao side members of the delegation of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army led by Chief Sanyahak Phomvihane and Chaleune Warinthrasak, Lao ambassador to the DPRK.

At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly relations between the armies of the two countries and on matters of mutual concern.

KCNA reported on the welcoming ceremony for the LPA delegation:

A delegation of the General Staff of the Laotian People’s Army led by Chief Sanyahak Phomvihane arrived here Wednesday.

A ceremony to welcome the delegation took place in front of the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Memorial Tower.

The Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces hosted a reception in honor of the delegation.