Central Leadership Figures Visit Projects

Choe Ryong Hae is briefed about the construction of the Pyongyang Folk Park (L) on 4 May 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

Choe Ryong Hae (3rd R) tours ongoing construction at Rungra Islet in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 5 May (Saturday) that VMar Choe Ryong Hae, director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department (bureau) inspected ongoing construction work at Nungra Island and the Pyongyang Folk Park on 4 May (Friday).  It was Choe’s second reported solo public appearance since his elevation to the National Defense Commission and the Political Bureau Presidium.  KCNA reports:

The project is a giant undertaking to protect from flood the Rungra Pleasure Ground for People whose appearance is changing with each passing day according to the far-reaching plan of the WPK.

When the project is completed, it will help add beauty to the landscape of Rungra Islet and Panwol Islet and provide the people with a centre for a safer and highly civilized cultural and emotional life.

Having received the order of Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un, the solder-builders have made great achievements in carrying out every process of the project in a matter of just 40 odd days since the ground-breaking by displaying popular heroism and matchless devotion.

Going round different sections of the project, the director acquainted himself in detail with the progress made in the construction and the operation of vehicles. He also dropped in at bedrooms of soldier-builders and kitchens to learn about their living.

A consultative meeting took place at the work site.

Cranes at Tanchon Commerical Port (Photo: KCNA)

Crowd assembled for opening ceremony of Tanchon Port (Photo: KCNA)

Meanwhile, DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim spent several days in South Hamgyo’ng Province.  On Thursday (3 May) Choe attended the opening of Tanchon Port.  Among those who traveled out from Pyongyang for the port’s opening were Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission Ro Tu Chol and KWP Secretary and Director of the Finance and Planning Department Kwak Pom Gi.  During the 4th Party Conference in April, Ro and Kwak were elected alternate (candidate) members of the Political Bureau.  Kwak was also elected the KWP Secretary and Director of the Finance and Planning Department.  From June 2010 to April 2011, Kwak was chief party secretary for South Hamgyo’ng Province.  KCNA reports:

The construction of the port with a cargo traffic capacity of millions of tons provides a guarantee for greatly contributing to developing the nation’s foreign trade and improving the people’s living standard.

A ceremony for the completion of the construction was held on the spot Thursday.

Present there were Choe Yong Rim, Kwak Pom Gi, Ro Tu Chol and other officials concerned, officials of the Ministry of Land and Marine Transport, builders and working people of industrial establishments in Tanchon City.

Read out there was a joint congratulatory message sent by the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the Cabinet of the DPRK to the officials and members of shock brigades who performed labor feats in the construction of the port.

The message highly praised them for successfully building another giant structure in the era of Songun greatly conducive to building an economic power true to the life-time desires and last instructions of President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il.

It expressed belief that they would perform greater feats in the efforts for the country’s prosperity united close around the WPK Central Committee headed by the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

Minister of Land and Marine Transport Kang Jong Gwan, in his speech made for the occasion, said the construction of the port was a brilliant fruition of the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il who initiated the construction of the port and worked heart and soul to translate the desire of the President into a reality till the last moments of his revolutionary life and the clear-sighted guidance and meticulous care of Kim Jong Un.

Speakers at the ceremony pledged themselves to carry out their tasks including dredging in a short span of time in the same spirit as displayed in the construction of the port.

At the end of the ceremony the participants looked round different places of the port.

On the same day, Choe Yong Rim, Ro Tu Chol and other Cabinet officials visited Tanch’o'n Smeltery and the Tanch’o'n Magnesia Factory.  KCNA reports:

He went round the newly built cultural and welfare facilities and construction site of combined fire-proof materials production process.

Looking round the facilities he said that the officials should serve the convenience of the workers on a priority basis and look after their life with care, keeping deep in their minds the dear respected Kim Jong Un’s maxim of loving the people.

He also stressed the need to finish the construction of the fire-proof materials production process in a short period of time and keep the production going successfully by putting the production processes on a modern and scientific basis.

The premier went to the Tanchon Smeltery, which Kim Jong Il gave field guidance in his lifetime.

Touring various places of the Smeltery, he mentioned the need to increase the production of processed goods by introducing advanced technologies, setting up new processes, further heightening the level of technical skills and laying material and technical foundations for the timely and successful dressing of concentrated ores.

At a consultation meeting the premier stressed the need for everyone to turn out in the building of an economic power to register higher production records, remaining true to the noble intention of Kim Jong Il.

DPRK Choe Yong Rim (3rd L) is briefed about production at the Ryongsong Machine Complex in Hamhu’ng, South Hamgyo’ng Province on 4 May 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim tours the Hu’ngnam Fertilizer Complex in South Hamgyo’ng Province on 4 May 2012. Also seen in attendance is Vice Premier Ro Tu Chol (L) (Photo: KCNA)

On Friday (4 May), the same group visited factories in Hamhu’ng.  KCNA reports:

He looked round the February 8 Vinalon Complex, the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex, the Ryongsong Machine Complex, the Hungnam Pharmaceutical Factory and renovated Sinhung Restaurant associated with footprints of leader Kim Jong Il.

Workers in Hamhung City are bringing about a great surge in the drive to build an economic power, true to the behests of Kim Jong Il.

He acquainted himself with the production at the complexes and factory and convened consultative meetings.

The meetings discussed the issues of increasing and stepping up the production of carbide and vinalon as well as fertilizers.

The meetings also took measures for pushing ahead with the production of custom-built equipment including high-performance compressor needed for various fields of national economy, increasing the production of medicines and finishing the renovation project at an early date.

Then, he went round Sinhung Restaurant.

He called on the employees of the Restaurant to perform their mission and role as servants for people, true to the Party’s slogan “We Serve the People!”

Choe Yong Rim tours the 8 February Vinalon Complex (Photo: KCNA)

Choe Yong Rim visits Sinhung Restaurant (Photo: KCNA)

Workers’ Orgs to Hold Conferences in May and June

National headquarters of the Kim Il Sung Youth League (L) and the Korea Democratic Women’s Union (R) in Pyongyang (Photo: Google image)

DPRK state media reported on 4 May (Friday) that the four major Workers’ Organizations will hold membership conferences “from late May to early June.”  KCNA reports:

Conferences of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League, the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea and the Democratic Women’s Union of Korea are to be held here from late May to early June.

Discussed there will be the tasks of the working people’s organisations to hold in high esteem President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il as eternal leaders of the Party and revolution, carry through the decision of the Fourth Conference of the Workers’ Party of Korea and build a thriving socialist nation under the guidance of the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

It is not clear if the Workers’ Organizations’ conferences are linked to another large gathering in Pyongyang connected to boosting the country’s food supply.  Good Friends reported on its website on 2 May (Wednesday) that “the new leadership decided to hold a homeland meeting in Pyongyang early in May with the intent of preparing measures to resolve the problem of food shortages.  Three to four functionaries of related fields from each county, and even larger numbers from each city are continuing to gather in Pyongyang. . .the scale is second only to the party representatives’ conference held on 11 April.”  Good Friends also reported that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n), “personally ordered the meeting to be held, saying that good methods of food production should be sought fundamentally.”

AFP reports:

North Korean officials from across the country will meet in Pyongyang this month to discuss ways to boost agriculture in the food-scarce nation, a Seoul aid group said on Thursday.

The ‘Homeland Conference’ will focus on ways to expand farmland in the mountainous nation by cultivating rugged areas and inactive land, Good Friends said on its website.

The meeting will draw hundreds of people including central and local government officials, ruling communist party officials and other state agencies, making it as large as a party meeting last month, the aid group said.

Seoul’s unification ministry could not immediately confirm the reported meeting, for which the aid group gave no date.

The North suffered a famine which killed hundreds of thousands in the 1990s and severe food shortages continue. UN agencies said last November that three million people would need food aid this year and child malnutrition was rising.

Good Friends said the Pyongyang meeting would also consider a chronic workforce shortage in agriculture.

Many collectivised farms suffer high rates of absenteeism as farmers roam in search of roots and wild greens to compensate for grain shortages, it said.

Kim Jong Un Attends Commemorative Photo Sessions

Kim Jong Un poses during a photo op with participants of the 4th Korean Workers' Party Conference and representatives to the centenary celebrations of Kim Il Sung's birth. (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

DPRK state media reported Tuesday (17 April) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended three commemorative photo sessions in Pyongyang.  The first photo session occurred at the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace (Ku’msusan Palace of the Sun) where KJU and other members of the central leadership had their pictures taken with participants of the 4th Party Conference and various revelers from KIS’ 100th birthday.   KCNA reports:

Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK], first chairman of the National Defence Commission [NDC] of the DPRK, and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army [KPA], had a photo session with the service personnel of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

Present there were senior party, state and army officials Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Yong Ho, Kim Jong Gak, Jang Song Thaek, Hyon Chol Hae, and Kim Won Hong.

Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated the service personnel who have displayed intense loyalty in the work to preserve with best care and manage the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun as an eternal holy site of the sun before having a photo session with them.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the service personnel would as ever creditably discharge their honorable mission and duty in the struggle for holding President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il in high esteem for all ages and glorify the glorious revolutionary history of the peerlessly great men and their immortal exploits.

Kim Jong Un (seated, 3rd R) attends a photo op with the KPA personnel involved in the construction of the recently completed People's Theater in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

KJU’s second photo op was with the Korean People’s Army [KPA] construction brigades, architects and designers who worked on the People’s Theater.  KCNA reports:

Present at the photo session were Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Thaek, and Kim Won Hong.

Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated them on their proud labor feats performed in the building of the theatre by fully displaying the revolutionary soldier spirit before having a picture taken with them.

He repeatedly appreciated their shining feats, saying that the above-said soldier-builders and designers successfully built many monumental edifices in the past, thus powerfully demonstrating the might of juche Korea before the whole world and making a great contribution to the prosperity of the country.

He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that they successfully completed the theatre in a matter of less than a year and creditably implemented the behest of leader Kim Jong Il, noting that he conceived the plan for its construction more than 10 years back and paid special attention to its project in the last period of his life to make sure that it was built as a gift of loyalty to the 100th birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and provided to the people.

He expressed expectation and belief that they would fully display patriotic devotion and popular heroism in the socialist construction in the future, too, and thus make a positive contribution to the cause of building a thriving nation.

Kim Jong Un (seated 8th R) attends a commemorative photo session with the personnel of the Ku'msusan Memorial Palace (also called the Ku'msusan Palace of the Sun) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Finally, Kim Jong Un had his photo taken with the staff and KPA soldiers who work at Ku’msusan.  These personnel are subordinate to the Office of Military Officers, which historically resided in the Personal Secretariat, but is probably now subordinate to the Guard Command.  This photo op was KJU’s most recent reported public appearance.  KCNA reports:

Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, had a photo session with the service personnel of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

Present there were senior party, state and army officials Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Yong Ho, Kim Jong Gak, Jang Song Thaek, Hyon Chol Hae, and Kim Won Hong.

Kim Jong Un warmly congratulated the service personnel who have displayed intense loyalty in the work to preserve with best care and manage the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun as an eternal holy site of the sun before having a photo session with them.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the service personnel would as ever creditably discharge their honorable mission and duty in the struggle for holding President Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il in high esteem for all ages and glorify the glorious revolutionary history of the peerlessly great men and their immortal exploits.

U Tong Chuk Standing in the Shadows?

Gen. U Tong Chuk (first row, R) attends a national report meeting on Kim Jong Il's birthday in Feburary 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

South Korean media, citing an anonymous source, reports that the Ministry of State Security’s [MSS] Gen. U Tong Chuk (U To’ng-ch’uk) may have been removed from office.  Gen. U was neither reported nor observed to have attended any of the public events or celebrations of the centenary of Kim Il Sung’s birth last week.  Based on reported personnel lists from the 5th session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA], Gen. U was removed as a member of the National Defense Commission [NDC].  It is not clear if Gen. U was among the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Political Bureau members and alternates who were “recalled” during the 4th Party Conference on 11 April.  U Tong Chuk’s last reported public activities occurred during late March when he attended or participated in several events ending the 100-day mourning period for Kim Jong Il.

Yonhap reports:

U Tong-chuk, first deputy head of the State Security Ministry, has been absent from state media coverage since late last month when he accompanied Kim to a mausoleum in Pyongyang to pay respects to Kim’s late father, long-time leader Kim Jong-il who died in December.

U was one of the seven top officials who walked with Kim Jong-un beside the hearse carrying the body of Kim Jong-il during the funeral procession in Pyongyang on Dec. 28.

The senior intelligence official and the seven others were believed to be confidants and advisers as Kim Jong-un took the reins of the country after his father’s demise.

The young leader seems to have purged U as he assumes his father’s key posts in the ruling Workers’ Party, military and the government in a series of political events aimed at consolidating his power.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported last week that Kim Won-hong was appointed as State Security Minister in April, taking up U’s position.

It is not clear whether U has been dismissed from his post or executed.

A South Korean official, who closely monitors North Korean affairs, said the reported purge has yet to be confirmed. He asked not to be identified, citing policy.

The North has a track record of purging or executing senior officials.

Last year, North Korea apparently removed Ryu Kyong, another senior intelligence official, according to South Korean officials and local media.

Historically, the only way out as the leading official of State Security has been death–execution, suicide or even natural causes (such as the last known minister Ri Chun Su from a heart attack in 1987).  There have been no reports, or even rumors, that Gen. U has been executed.

U Tong Chuk is closely tied to Kim Jong Un’s succession.  Given his background, he was most likely placed as a transitional figure within the central leadership.  He opened foreign intelligence and diplomatic channels, oversaw systemic reorganization of DPRK security agencies and assets and performed the aggressive acts necessary to consolidate the positions of KJU and other senior officials such as VMar Kim Jong Gak and VMar Choe Ryong Hae.

Gen. Kim Won Hong (R) attends aan aviation display and inspection with Kim Jong Un in 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

According to several sources, Gen. U was promoted to Minister of State Security during the autumn of 2011.  However, in publishing biographical profiles on members of the Political Bureau on 12 April 2012, DPRK state media identified Gen. Kim Won Hong as having been appointed minister in April 2012.  DPRK media never identified Gen. U as minister, suggesting that even if he was promoted it was on interim basis.  Both Gen. Kim and Gen. U appeared on the same Korean People’s Army [KPA] promotions list in April 2009 when U was promoted to 3-star Colonel General (sangjang) and Kim promoted to 4-star General (tangjang).  Also, during 2009, Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim Won Hong was replaced as head of the Military Security Command [MSC] by Col. Gen. Jo Kyong Chol (Cho Kyo’ng-ch’o'l).

Gen. U (annotated) talks with KWP Secretary Kim Ki Nam during Kim Jong Il's May 2009 visit to the training center for the command element of KPA Unit #10215 (Photo: KCNA)

Gen. U attends a concert by the U'nhasu Orchestra in October 2011 (Photo: KCNA)

During 2009 and 2010, U Tong Chuk became State Security’s public face and acted as its chief functionary, while Kim Won Hong appeared to continue to discharge the functions of MSC chief.    U’s status was gradually enhanced as he was promoted to General in April 2010 and elected as an alternate to the Political Bureau and CMC in September 2010.  In 2010 and 2011 Gen. U supervised investigative activities which resulted in a number of officials and cadres being dismissed from office, incarcerated or executed.  In 2011 Gen. U led a major personnel housecleaning at State Security, which resulted in the removal of dozens of domestic managers and operatives.  U also supervised the relocation of several intelligence branch offices outside the DPRK.    As Kim Jong Il’s health eroded during 2011, Gen. U was well-positioned to tie up any loose ends before and after KJI passed away.  Gen. U was identified as one of the “death angels” involved in the dismissals and executions of officials in the Ministry of People’s Armed Forces and KPA General Staff.

As reports of these purges began to appear in March 2012, Gen. U withdrew to the shadows.  The question Pyongyang watchers might ask is whether Gen. U inadvertently had the wrong cadre clipped or if it was always intended for him to make his public position untenable.

Kim Jong Gak Appointed Minister of People’s Armed Forces

Kim Jong Gak (R) has been appointed defense minister and Hyon Chol Hae (3rd R) was promoted to Vice Marshal (Photo: KCNA)

VMar Kim Jong Gak (Kim Cho’ng-gak) has been appointed Minister of the People’s Armed Forces [MPAF].  Kim was promoted from 4-star general (taejang) to Vice Marshal (ch’asu) on 15 February 2012.  Four days after his promotion Kim penned an essay in Rodong Sinmun that praised Kim Jong Il and pledged the “unwavering faith” of KPA personnel to Kim Jong Un.    Kim replaces VMar Kim Yong Chun, who was appointed minister in 2009.

From 2007 to 2012 VMar Kim served as senior deputy (1st vice) director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department  [GPD](bureau), which is responsible for political control and ideological indoctrination of enlisted personnel and officers of the KPA.  Prior to that Kim was a vice minister of the People’s Armed Forces. In 2009 Kim was elected a member of the National Defense Commission [NDC] and in 2010 he was elected an alternate (candidate) member of the Political Bureau and member of the Party Central Military Commission [CMC].  The position of GPD director has been vacant since the November 2010 death of VMar Jo Myong Rok (Cho Myo’ng-rok) and Kim’s February 2012 promotion initially suggested that he would be elevated to that position.    Senior personnel changes at GPD are likely to become clearer as the next 72 hours unfold.

Hyon Chol Hae (L), Kim Jong Gak (2nd L) and Kim Yong Chun (2nd R) attend an April 2010 concert with Kim Jong Il (R) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

On 7 April (Saturday), the CMC and NDC issued a joint promotion order.  KWP Secretary Choe Ryong Hae (Choe Ryo’ng-hae) and NDC Standing Committee Director Hyon Chol Hae were respectively elevated to Vice Marshal.  Hyon Chol Hae received his fourth star in 1995.  Despite having relatives who migrated to South Korea, neither his patronage network nor standing in the KPA has seemed to wane.  Hyon was last reported and observed in attendance at Kim Jong Un’s inspections at Ryo Island and KPA Navy Unit #155 during 4-5 April 2012.  Choe Ryong Hae was part of the September 2010 promotions list which included Kim Jong Un and Kim Kyong Hui (KJI’s sister/KJU’s aunt).

Choe Ryong Hae leads students in a loyalty oath at an April 2011 rally (Photo: KCNA)

Choe has close ties to Jang Song Taek and during the 1980s to the 1990s was one of Kim Jong Il’s closest subordinates.  Choe is the son of former defense minister Choe Hyon (1907-1982), who served as a platoon leader in the 88th Sniper Brigade (i.e. partisan unit).  Choe Hyon was a key supporter of KJI’s succession in the 1970s, arguing that an eldest son is his father’s successor.  On 10 April (Tuesday), Choe Ryong Hae led members of the central leadership to pay their respects to Choe Hyon’s memorial bust at the Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery on Mt. Taesong.  KCNA reports:

Wreaths were laid before the bust of Choe Hyon, a revolutionary martyr, at the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong Tuesday on the occasion of his 30th death anniversary.

Seen before the bust was a wreath sent by the dear respected Kim Jong Un.

Present at the wreath-laying ceremony were Choe Ryong Hae, Ri Yong Ho, Kim Yong Chun, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and O Kuk Ryol, officials of the party and armed forces bodies, ministries and national institutions, and media persons, servicepersons, bereaved

families and other people in the city.

Laid before the bust were wreaths in the name of the C.C., the Workers’ Party of Korea, the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly, the DPRK Cabinet, the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, the Ministry of People’s Security, ministries, national institutions, media organs, units of the Korean People’s Army, the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK, etc. Bouquets were also placed before the bust.

The participants observed a moment’s silence in memory of the martyr.

KCNA reported on Choe and Hyon’s promotions:

The title of Korean People’s Army Vice Marshal was awarded to Choe Ryong Hae and Hyon Chol Hae

A joint decision on awarding the title was released by the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the National Defence Commission of the DPRK on April 7.

Kim Jong Un Visits East Sea KPA Unit

Kim Jong Un (2nd row, C) poses for a commemorative photograph with personnel of a coastal artillery on Ryo Islet (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Ryo Island in relation to Wo'nsan, Kangwo'n Province (Photo: Google image)

DPRK state media reported on 4 April (Wednesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) inspected Ryo Island, located in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), approximately 11 miles (18 km) off the coast from Wo’nsan.  It was his first public appearance since he attended a national memorial rally in Kim Il Sung Square on 25 March which ended the 100-day mourning period for Kim Jong Il.  During the inspection he was accompanied by Gen. Kim Won Hong, Gen. Hyon Chol hae, Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song and Lt. Gen. Ri Jong Mu.  During the 3rd Party Conference in September 2010, KJU sat between Gen. Kim and Gen. Hyon and one of the early key events of Kim Jong Un’s succession was his father’s guidance tour of Wo’nsan University of Agriculture.

Kim Jong Un (3rd R) is briefed on what appears to be an anti-aircraft artillery piece during his visit to Ryo Island. Also in attendance is Gen. Kim Wo'n-hong, a member of the Party Central Military Commission (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

KCNA reports:

He gave the 4th Company and the 3rd Company of the Coastal Artillery Battalion under the unit binoculars and automatic rifles as souvenirs and had a photo session with service personnel of the defence unit and their families.

He went round firepower apparatuses watched by leader Kim Jong Il before visiting the room devoted to the education in the revolutionary history.

Seeing one by one the precious historic data on the undying leadership feats of President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, he looked back with deep emotion on the proud course covered by the defence unit.

At a military lecture room, he praised the defence unit for preparing the commanding and staff officers as able ones by successfully building the military lecture room and organizing an effective training for them.

Going round the service personnel’s hall and library, he learned about the political and ideological education of them.

He climbed a command and watch post on top of a mountain along a hillside road which was so steep that the car had to be pushed to reach there due to thaw.

He expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the commanding officers and soldiers of the defence unit have consolidated Ryo Islet to be a fortress standing invulnerable even in face of any enemy’s surprise invasion and fire strike.

Feasting his eyes on a vast defence theatre of which the defence unit is in charge, he stressed the need to consolidate Ryo Islet, the gateway in the East Sea, as firm as an iron wall in order not to allow the enemy to invade the socialist country under any circumstances. He, at the same time, ordered the unit to send all the intruders into the bottom of the sea.

He went round the service personnel’s health complex, non-staple foodstuff store, vegetable greenhouse and other supply service facilities run by the defence unit itself. He underlined the need to continue directing big efforts to supply service so that the service personnel there may not be nostalgic for the life on the land.

Making the rounds of the company and the coastal battery under the unit, he paid deep attention to the living of the service personnel.

He guided the training in firearms at the coast artillery emplacement visited by Kim Jong Il and had a photo session with soldiers, holding their shoulders in his arms.

He highly appreciated the achievements performed by the unit in the past period, noting that the unit honored with the title of O Jung Hup-led Seventh Regiment is a model in all aspects including combat and political training, supply service and unit command and management.

He highly appreciated the efforts made by Hero of the Republic Chon Jae Gwon while serving as commander of the unit for 25 years and reposed deepest trust in Chon by saying that there should be by his side such officers as Chon.

He got aboard the warship to sail despite rough waves, telling the commanding officers that he entrusted the defence of Ryo Islet to them and wishing them good health and greater success in rounding off the combat preparations.

Kim Jong Un inspects a fence during his visit to Ryo Island (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un points at a map of what appears to be the east coast of Kangwo'n Province. Also seen in attendance (3rd L) is Gen. Hyon Chol Hae (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un poses (front row, C) for a commemorative photo with the personnel and families on Ryo Island (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Party Conference Scheduled for April 11

DPRK state media reported that the 4th Korean Workers’ Party Conference (Meeting of Party Representatives) will convene on 11 April (Wednesday), after provincial and ministerial party conferences completed electing delegates.  KCNA reports:

Meetings of the party committees of the Korean People’s Army, all the provinces (political bureau), cities (district) and counties were successfully held to elect delegates to the Fourth Conference of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).

The meetings elected Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of the WPK, state and army, as a delegate to the Fourth WPK Conference, reflecting the unanimous will and desire of all the party members, service personnel and people.

The meetings also elected officials and other working people who performed merits in strengthening the party and accomplishing the cause of the Juche revolution, the cause of songun revolution, as delegates to the WPK Conference.

The Fourth Conference of the WPK will take place in Pyongyang on April 11. The preparatory committee for the WPK Conference made it clear.

Yonhap reports:

North Korea will hold a key political conference next week, the country’s state media reported Monday, amid rising tensions over Pyongyang’s planned rocket launch.

The Workers’ Party will convene the conference in Pyongyang on April 11, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said in a dispatch.

The North has elected its leader Kim Jong-un as a delegate to the conference, “reflecting the unanimous will and desire of all the party members, service personnel and people,” the dispatch said.

The conference is expected to be closely watched by regional officials and analysts for Kim’s possible promotion to top posts held by his late father, Kim Jong-il.

The young leader, believed to be in his late 20s, has become the supreme commander of the 1.1 million-strong military as he took over the country following the death of his father in December.

The North is also scheduled to hold a separate parliamentary session on April 13, the first such meeting since the demise of Kim Jong-il.

The announcement comes as the communist country vowed repeatedly to go ahead with the long-range rocket launch in defiance of international warnings and pressure.

The North has claimed that the launch set for sometime between April 12 and 16 is designed to put an earth observation satellite into orbit.

Meanwhile a Swiss newspaper, citing one of his classmates, reports that KJU was routinely absent from class when he studied at the International School of Berne.  This may explain some previous reporting that KJU’s time in Berne as cloistered.

AFP reports:

Kim, who is 29, was absent for 75 days in his first year at the International School of Bern, according to Le Matin Dimanche, while in his second year, he missed 105 days of classes.

The boy, who was registered under the pseudonym Un Pak, was sometimes in school only in the afternoons, said the newspaper, quoting an unnamed former classmate.

Not surprisingly then that Kim failed natural sciences with 3.5 out of 6, and obtained a just minimum passing score of four for mathematics, culture and society and German.

Even in English, where he was placed in an advanced class before being downgraded to an average one, he obtained the minimum pass grade.

Only in music and technical studies did he obtain 5.

This was despite the fact that Kim, who was born January 8, 1983, was in a class of children mostly born in 1985 due to his poor level of German — the main language used in the Swiss capital Bern.

KJU Election as Delegate Endorsed by Local Party Conferences

Kim Jong Un (C) attending a concert by the U'nhasu Orchestra in March. Also seen in attendance is DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (L) and Jang Song Taek (R)

The Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] has continued to hold provincial party conferences to elect delegates (party representatives) to the 4th Party Conference to be held in the middle of April.  Participants in the provincial party conferences endorsed the election of Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) as a delegate to the 4th Party Conference.  According to KCNA, provincial party conferences were held in Jagang, South Hwanghae, North P’yo’ngan and Kangwo’n and a city party conference was held in Raso’n (Rajin-So’nbong is one of three province-level cities).  On 26 March, KJU was elected a delegate to the 4th Party Conference by the party organization (KWP committee) of the Korean People’s Army [KPA].

KCNA reports:

Present there were delegates elected at the party organizations of cities and counties in the provinces and those performing the same function as theirs’ and the party organizations of the provincial institutions.

The delegates paid silent tribute to leader Kim Jong Il.

The meetings discussed the election of delegates to the WPK Conference.

Addresses on electing the dear respected Kim Jong Un, the supreme leader of the WPK and the Korean people, as a delegate to the WPK Conference were made at the meetings.

The addresses said that Kim Jong Il defended the socialist country and laid the foundation for the happy life of the Korean people while hewing the untrodden difficult path in the van with his iron will and superhuman energy.

Kim Jong Un is the supreme leader of the WPK and the Korean people who is leading to victory the revolutionary cause of Juche and the cause of building a thriving nation which was pioneered by President Kim Il Sung and advanced by Kim Jong Il, the addresses noted, adding that the ideological and theoretical guidelines have been provided to boundlessly glorify the Juche idea and the Songun idea and the day of victory of the revolutionary cause of Juche and the cause of building a thriving nation is coming near thanks to the energetic ideological and theoretical activities and tested leadership of Kim Jong Un.

The addresses praised him as the great statesman who is wisely leading the revolution and construction as a whole with his tested leadership and the general of Mt. Paektu style who is making the DPRK shed its rays as a military power, possessed of the distinguished quality and trait and organizational ability that no one can match.

The addresses courteously proposed to elect him as a delegate to the WPK Conference, representing the unanimous will and desire of all the party members and other people in the provinces and the city.

At the meetings speakers fully supported and approved the proposal on electing him as a delegate to the WPK Conference.

The meetings unanimously adopted decisions on electing him as a delegate to the WPK Conference.

The meetings elected delegates to the WPK Conference.

Yonhap reports:

After a series of party meetings countrywide, North Korea has elected new leader Kim Jong-un as a delegate to this month’s ruling party conference, the North’s state media said Sunday, in a move seen by outside analysts as another effort to consolidate Kim’s grip on power.

The North’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) plans to hold a special session on April 13 and is expected to appoint the young Kim, believed to be in his late 20s, to the post of general secretary of the party. The same post was held by his late father Kim Jong-il.

The young leader became supreme commander of the North’s 1.1 million-strong military shortly after his father’s death in December, as he progressively takes more control of the communist country.

Announcing Kim as a WPK delegate, representatives “praised him as the great statesman who is wisely leading the revolution and construction as a whole with his tested leadership,” according to an English-language report by the Korean Central News Agency.

Ahead of the upcoming special session, the party meetings represented “the unanimous will and desire of all the party members and other people,” the report continued.

North Korea is preparing a grandiose celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of late founding leader Kim Il-sung, grandfather of Kim Jong-un, on April 15.

In the first international conflict since the death of Kim Jong-il, North Korea has vowed to press ahead with a plan to launch a long-range rocket, ostensibly to put a satellite into orbit, between April 12 and 16, rebuffing a chorus of international warnings.

South Korea, the United States and Japan have demanded North Korea call off the planned launch, warning it would violate a U.N. resolution that bans any ballistic missile tests by the communist country.

North Korea has refused to budge, arguing that it has a sovereign right to fire the rocket as part of its “peaceful” exploration of the space.

Gas Up the KMS-3

Commemorative postage stamp of the Kwangmyo'ngso'ng-2/U'nha-2 launch in April 2009 (Photo: KCNA)

Technicians from the Korea Committee for Space Technology [KCST] continue preparations for the launch of the U’nha-3 carrier rocket which will reportedly carry payload, Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-3 [KMS-3] satellite.  38 North provides a detailed image analysis of the ongoing activities at Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Tongch’ang-ri, North P’yo’ngan Province:

Launch pad preparation seems to be progressing on schedule with fuel and oxidizer being delivered to the storage buildings for the Unha-3’s first stage. The next step will be the movement of the first stage to the pad—probably on March 30 or 31—followed by the second stage a day or two later. The third stage and payload will follow probably by April 2 or 3. Several other major events will take place after the Unha-3 is completely assembled. Unless some major setback occurs, the North Koreans will be able to launch during the declared launch window starting April 12, 2012.

Complementing the piece, image analysis expert Nick Hansen produced a timeline on U’nha-3′s launch preparations and the DPRK’s previous rocket (ICBM) launches:

It is no secret that North Korea plans to launch a satellite in a window between April 12-16, 2012 to coincide with the 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of the country. It also plans to use an Unha-3 booster rocket launched from a new space port (Sohae Satellite Launching Station, a.k.a. Tongchang-dong Space Launch Center). The real secret is how North Korea plans to accomplish this task in the nearly three weeks left before the announced launch window. To provide some context on a probable timeline, this article briefly discusses the observed activities leading up to the Unha launch on July 4, 2006 and the Unha-2 launch on April 5, 2009, both from its old Tonghae Test Center.

Commercial imagery and open source reporting has shown that the launch campaigns of both 2006 and 2009 from Tonghae took about 2.25 months. Therefore, if the North Koreans are following anything like their previous schedule, the new campaign should be well underway. Imagery as of March 29, 2012, indicates that preparations have indeed begun. If a launch is really planned, it can be assumed that the Unha-3 and the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, identified as an earth resources mission, will soon be inside the assembly building.

AFP reports:

North Korea has begun fuelling a rocket for a launch that the West considers a missile test, a Japanese newspaper reported on Thursday, citing a source “close to the government” in Pyongyang.

“The launch is coming closer. The possibility is high that the launch date will be set for April 12 or 13,” the source said according to the Tokyo Shimbun in a report from Seoul.

It cited the source as saying that North Korea had begun injecting liquid fuel into the rocket.

The paper also said a diplomatic source had confirmed that North Korea has moved the rocket to a launch pad in Tongchang-ri in the country’s far northwest.

The report came after North Korea insisted Tuesday it would go ahead with what it says is a satellite launch, snubbing a call from US President Barack Obama to drop the plan and accusing him of a “confrontational mindset”.

DPRK media interviewed a deputy (vice) director of the KCST’s Space Development Department who provided a general explanation about the satellite, its equipment and the official motivation for the launch.  KCNA reports:

There were questions about the data of the working satellite to be launched on the occasion of the significant Day of the Sun and the visits by foreign experts and reporters.

Question: What is the mission of Kwangmyongsong-3, first working satellite in the DPRK?

Answer: Kwangmyongsong-3 as an earth observation satellite will assess the distribution of forests and natural resources of the DPRK, the level of natural disaster, the crop estimate, etc. and collect data necessary for weather forecast, natural resources prospecting and others.

Q: What is its capacity?

A: Kwangmyongsong-3 has video camera mounted on it and will send observation data including pictures to the General Satellite Control and Command Centre.

It weighs 100kg and will circle along the solar synchronous orbit at 500km high altitude. Its life is two years.

Q: The DPRK invited foreign experts and reporters to the satellite launch. What can they observe?

A: They will go to the Sohae Satellite Launching Station to witness carrier rocket Unha-3 on the launching pad and Kwangmyongsong-3. They will watch the preparation for the launch of the carrier rocket with satellite on it in the General Launch Command Centre. They will also visit the General Satellite Control and Command Centre in Pyongyang and see the satellite being launched in a relevant place.

We will organize special visits going beyond the international usage to show with transparency the peaceful, scientific and technological nature of the satellite.

The U’nha-3 is not the only missile being tested on the DPRK’s west coast this spring.  South Korean media reported that on Thursday (29 March) that two KN-01 anti-ship missiles were tested.  KBS World reports:

The official said Friday that the North launched two KN-01 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of 120 kilometers from North Pyongan Province.

The official said the missile tests are not considered to be related to the North’s plan to launch a long-range rocket next month and were apparently carried out to test the missiles’ capacities. However, the official added the tests could be interpreted as the North’s protest over the recent expansion of South Korean and U.S. war vessels deployed in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea test-fired three KN-02 surface-to-surface missiles in the East Sea earlier in January and test-fired two short-range missiles off its eastern coast on December 19th last year, the day Kim Jong-il’s death was announced.

Japan’s Self Defense Forces [SDF] have been ordered to shoot down any parts of the U’nha-3 which might impact Japanese territory.  Japan will also deploy surface-to-air missiles [SAM] as the launch approaches.  Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda was the only  international leader to explicitly remark on the U’nha/KMS-3 launch during the proceedings of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul earlier this week.

Asahi Japan Watch reports:

Pyongyang says it is planning to launch an Earth observation satellite between April 12 and 16, prompting Japan to mobilize its forces ahead of the launch. It is strongly suspected that the launch is nothing but a ruse to test a long-range ballistic missile.

On March 28, an RC-135U reconnaissance plane, designed to collect electronic intelligence, arrived at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture.

Surface-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles have already been deployed at Kadena on a permanent basis, and the Air SDF is continuing with preparations for the deployment of PAC-3 missiles in other locations around Japan. Actual deployment was to get under way from March 30.

The Maritime SDF will also deploy three Aegis-class destroyers to waters off Okinawa and in the Sea of Japan to track the rocket/missile.

The PAC-3 missiles will be deployed in three locations in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area as well as four locations in Okinawa, including the Miyakojima and Ishigakijima islands. The missiles are expected to be transported by sea from SDF bases in Tsu and Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, via Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture.

Because the North Korean missile is only expected to traverse the islands of Okinawa, there is thought to be a very low chance of any parts of it falling on Japanese territory.

Aegis-class destroyers successfully shot down ballistic missiles in three out of four tests by the MSDF. Two tests of PAC-3 missiles have also been successful.

Hideaki Kaneda, a former senior MSDF officer who is a director at the Okazaki Institute, said: “Japan has the ability to make an appropiate response against missiles similar in type to the Rodong (of North Korea).”

However, the PAC-3 missile only has a range of several dozens of kilometers for intercepting ballistic missiles. If the North Korean ballistic missile approaches Japanese airspace, it would likely herald some sort of malfunction.

Military analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa said: “If the missile starts to drop out of the sky due to a malfunction, its flight route would become unstable because of air resistance. That would make it much harder to shoot it down (with an interceptor missile).”

Another military commentator, Isaku Okabe, admitted the difficulty of shooting down a missile that had gone off course, but he said: “The route is over a large area of water, so there is a small chance that the missile will fall on land.”

Yanggang (Ryanggang) Provincial Party Secretary Kim Hui Taek (L)

Meanwhile, Daily NK citing sources in Yanggang Province, reports that Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] deputies have been ordered to arrive in Pyongyang on or around 5 April, eight (8) days prior to the convocation of the 5th session (plenum; plenary meeting) of the 12th SPA on 13 April.  It is speculated in the article that the 4th Party Conference (Meeting of Party Representatives) might occur prior to the SPA, due to overlapping (dual) membership.  Given the scheduling of the SPA session and the projected dates of the U’nha-3 launch, the DPRK central leadership may be looking for a propulsive pretext to convene the party conference.

The unusually long eight day lead-in time appears to suggest that the 4th Chosun Workers’ Party Delegates’ Conference is going to occur sometime between the 5th and 12th, to be followed by the SPA on the 13th in order to allow all political formalities to be completed before the regime turns its attention to celebrating the 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth on the 15th.

The exact schedule is a guessing game because although the Politburo revealed official plans to hold the 4th Delegates’ Conference “in mid-April” on February 20th, a precise date has still not been officially released.

A source from Hyesan in Yangkang Province revealed news of the order to assemble in conversation with Daily NK today, adding that “Nine people will depart from Hyesan by train on April 1st as SPA delegates, including Provincial Party Chief Secretary Kim Hi Taek, the principal of Kim Jong Suk College of Education and the low-level Party secretary from Hyesan Textile Factory.”

According to the source, “There has been no order handed down about the Delegates’ Conference, but since they have told delegates to assemble early for the SPA, the word on the street is that the Delegates’ Conference will come first.”

Many of the ‘lawmakers’ in the rubberstamp SPA are also likely to be Party delegates as well, meaning that holding the two events in very quick succession is logistically beneficial.

Delegates will travel on special trains laid on to transport people and freight on the behalf of the state. In the case of delegates from Hyesan, the train will depart from the border city before stopping at Kilju in North Hamkyung Province and passing through Kim Chaek, Simpo and Hamheung before stopping at Suncheon and Pyongsung in South Pyongan Province en route to the capital. If all goes according to plan, the journey should take 22 hours, though the April 1st departure date is a clear reflection of how power limitations can affect travel in rural North Korea.

In the meantime, Chosun Central News Agency and Rodong Shinmun have both been reporting on local conferences held to ‘elect’ delegates to the 4th Delegates’ Conference, though these are not competitive elections. So far, Kim Jong Eun has been officially adopted as a delegate by the Chosun People’s Army and the Party in South Pyongan Province and the capital, Pyongyang.

If the Supreme People’s Assembly does occur after the 4th Delegates’ Conference, Kim Jong Eun will first formally take power in the Party and then in the administrative sector, presumably becoming Chosun Workers’ Party chief secretary and chairman of the Central Military Committee before then becoming head of state.