National Meeting Commemorates 48th Anniversary of KJI Beginning Work at Party Central Committee

View of the platform (rostrum) of a national meeting commemorating the 49th anniversary of the start of late leader Kim Jong Il’s work at the Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee, held at 25 April House of Culture in Pyongyang on 18 June 2013 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

DPRK state media reported that national meeting commemorating the 48th anniversary of the start of late leader Kim Jong Il’s work at the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Central Committee was held at the 25 April House of Culture on 18 June (Tuesday).  The meeting was attended by Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju, Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok (who presided over the meeting), along with “other senior officials of the party, the state and the army, officials in various fields, persons of merit and Pyongyangites.”

A view of the participants at a national meeting commemorating the 49th anniversary of the start of Kim Jong Il’s work at the Party Central Committee. The meeting was held at 25 April House of Culture on 18 June 2013 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

Participants at a national meeting commemorating the 49th anniversary of the start of Kim Jong Il’s work at the Party Central Committee, held at 25 April House of Culture on 18 June 2013 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap).

According to KCNA’s report on the meeting, Kim Jong Il “started his work at the Central Committee on June 19, Chuch’e 53 (1964), reflecting the noble intention of President Kim Il Sung and the desire of all the service personnel and the people” and he “led the WPK along the road of victory with his extraordinary ideological and theoretical wisdom, outstanding leadership ability and noble popular personality, performing immortal feats before the era and the revolution, the country and its people.”  As part of his work at the Party Central Committee, Kim Jong Il formulated “the President’s revolutionary idea as Kimilsungism and proclaimed the modeling the whole of society on the Juche idea as the supreme programme of the WPK. Then he set forth the line of building the party which called for modeling the entire party on Kimilsungism” and the “the Military-First (So’ngun) politics as the revolutionary leadership mode of the party and developed the WPK into staff of the Military-First (So’ngun) revolution.”  KCNA said that “thanks to his energetic leadership the DPRK could demonstrate its might as a satellite manufacturer and launcher and usher in a new heyday in building socialist culture” and that a “new turning phase of the movement for the country’s reunification was opened and its international prestige and influence further increased and the international solidarity with the Korean revolution grew stronger remarkably.”

KWP Secretary and Supreme People’s Assembly Chairman Choe Tae Bok delivered the meeting’s official report.  Choe praised Kim Jong Il’s accomplishments and Kim Jong Un’s “wise leadership.”  According to KCNA, Choe said in his report that “the portrait of smiling Kim Jong Il and his immortal feats will always be remembered by our party members and other people and world progressives to shine forever. . .Kim Jong Il’s Chuch’e-oriented idea and cause of party building are being successfully carried forward and developed by the dear respected Kim Jong Un.  Victory and glory are always set in store for the Korean revolution which is dynamically advancing, flying high the party flag of Juche under the leadership of Kim Jong Un.”  In his report Choe also “stressed the the need for the party to focus its work on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear armed forces, which is the party’s new strategic line, and advance the final victory of “anti-US war of confrontation” and “construction of socialist powerful state.”  Choe also said there was a “need to realize modernization and scientification of national defense industry into a higher level and defend the country so that aggressors will not be able to infiltrate into the DPRK’s territorial airspace, territorial waters, and territory.”  Choe also said there was a need for “the entire nation to bring a new turnabout in economic construction and improving people’s lives” and that there was a need to “to build nuclear armed forces, expand the achievement of conquering space, and accelerate the construction of a powerful state of knowledge-based economy and a socialist civilized country with the country’s own strength.”

Kim Jong Un Visits Yanggakdo Stadium and Football Game

Kim Jong Un (1) provides instructions on the renovation of Yanggakdo Stadium in Pyongyang. Also seen in attendance are Jang Song Taek (2), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (3) and Kim Jong Un’s wife Ri Sol Ju (4) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 29 April (Monday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the Yanggakdo Stadium and attended the men’s football finals for the Mangyo’ngdae Prize at Kim Il Sung Stadium.  KJU’s last reported public appearance was his visit to the Haedanghwa Health Complex.  KJU’s first visit was to the Yanggakdo Stadium which he ordered to be renovated.  Attending the visit was his wife, Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu), along with VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC]), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Col. Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Chief of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau) and other officials.

According to KCNA Kim Jong Un visited the stadium (originally opened in 1989) “with a plan to radically remodel the stadium as required by the new century.”  KJU visited the stadium historical exhibition where he “recollected with deep emotion the undying exploits they performed for the development of the Juche-based physical culture and sports.”  KJU then toured the stadium and ordered a series of renovations.  He said, “it is the intention of the Workers’ Party of Korea to turn the stadium into a football stadium which can represent stadiums of such type across the country as required by the new century.”  KJU also “formed a strong construction unit capable of carrying out the project in a brief span of time.”  KJU also remarked that “to develop physical culture and sports is an important work to augment the national power in every way, demonstrate the indomitable spirit and dignity of Military-First (So’ngun) Korea before the world and let all the service personnel and people dynamically step up the building of a thriving socialist nation full of national pride and self-esteem” and he “expressed expectation and belief that the relevant fields would successfully remodel the stadium as a football stadium to be impeccable in any aspect.”

Kim Jong Un (3) attends the men’s premier league football finals for the Mangyongdae Prize at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 29 April 2013. Also watching the game with are Jang Song Taek (1), Ri Sol Ju (2) and Choe Tae Bok) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Su later attended the  men’s football (soccer) finals for the Mangyo’ngdae Prize National Sports Festival at Kim Il Sung Stadium.  Also in attendance at the football game were VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Taek, Gen. Hyon Yong Chol, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Kim Ki Nam (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department), Choe Tae Bok (KWP Secretary and SPA Chairman), Kim Yang Gon (KWP Secretary and Director of the United Front Department), Kim Yong Il (KWP Secretary and Director of the International Affairs Department), Kim P’yo’ng-hae (KWP Secretary and Director of Cadres’ Affairs), Kwak Pom Gi (KWP Secretary and Director of the Planning and Finance Department), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ju Kyu Chang (Director of the KWP Machine-Building Industry Department), Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il (Minister of the People’s Security), Kim Tong Il (Deputy [vice] Director of the KWP Workers’ Organizations Department) and “members of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, officials of the party and armed forces organs, ministries and national institutions, those in the sports field, sportspersons, fans and Pyongyangites.”

The men’s football premier league finals for the Mangyongdae Prize between the Rimyongsu Sports Group and the Amnokgang Sports Group at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 29 April 2013. The Rimyongsu Team beat the Amnokgang Team 2-1. (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

The match was played between two of the DPRK’s premier league teams, Rimyongsu and Amnokgang.  KCNA reported the two teams “advanced into the finals after proving successful at the men’s premier soccer league matches. They played good games, displaying high technique they have cultivated in day-to-day trainings” and that “Rimyongsu Team took the initiative from the beginning according to its tactics and made hot attacks.”  Rimyongsu led Amnokgang 2-0 in the first half and went onto win the game 2-1.  At the end of the match, Kim Jong Un “congratulated the footballers of both teams on playing a good match, expressing great satisfaction with their high technique.”

Kim Jong Un (1) greets DPRK athletes who received gold medals or placed in the top of their categories at international competitions held between February and April 2013. Also in attendance at the event held at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on 29 April 2013 are DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (2), Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Kim Kyok Sik (3), and Minister of People’s Security Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il (4) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

KJU also met with DPRK athletes who successfully participated in recent international competitions including long-distance runner Kim Kum Ok (who placed first in the 14th Asian Marathon Championship held in Hong Kong on 25 February 2013), wrestler Yang Kyong Il (who placed second in the men’s 55 kg freestyle at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championship), gymnast Ri Se Gwang (who placed first in the vault event at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup Series in Doha in March 2013), wrestler Hwang Ryong Hak (who placed first in the men’s 60 kg freestyle at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships), Pak Yong Mi (who placed first in the women’s 48 kg freestyle at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships), judoka Hong Kuk Hyon (who placed first in the women’s 73 kg weight class at the Asian Judo Championships of 2013 in Bangkok in April 2013), weightlifter Ri Su Hyon (who won three gold medals in the women’s 44 kg competition at the 2013 International Weightlifting Federation’s Youth World Championships in Tashkent in April 2013), Kwon Yong Gwang (who won three gold medals in the men’s 62 kg competition at 2013 IWF Youth World Championships in Tashkent) and weightlifter Pak Jong Ju (who came in second overall and won two medals in the men’s 50 kg competition at the IWF Youth World Championships in Tashkent), along with “a coach and physical culture and sports guidance officials.”

Kim Jong Un shook hands with the DPRK athletes and, according to KCNA, “highly praised them for proving successful at the recent international games and instilling the conviction of victory and optimism into the service personnel and people of the DPRK dynamically pushing forward the building of a thriving socialist nation despite harsh sanctions and strong pressure of the enemies.”  KJU also “expressed his belief that sports persons and coaches would undergo more intensive trainings to consolidate the successes achieved and fully demonstrate the honor of the country with gold medals at international games.”  Also attending KJU’s meet-and-greet were DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju, VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Jang Song Taek, Gen. Hyon Yong Chol, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Tae Bok, Kim Yang Gon, Kim Yong Il, Kim P’yo’ng-hae, Kwak Pom Gi, Mun Kyong Dok, Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il and members of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission.

KJU Visits Health Complex

Kim Jong Un (2nd R) and his wife Ri Sol Ju (R) visit a teppanyaki griddle in the restaurant of the Haedanghwa Health Complex in east Pyongyang (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 27 April (Saturday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited the recently constructed Haedanghwa Health Complex in Pyongyang.  KJU’s last reported public appearance was his attendance at a banquet commemorating the 81st anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army [KPA].  He was joined by his wife, Ri Sol Ju (Ri So’l-chu).  Madame Ri’s last reported public appearance was in late February, when she watched a basketball game and attended a banquet with Dennis Rodman.

Also attending the visit were DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju,  VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the KPA General Political Department),  Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission [NDC]), Gen. Hyon Yong Chol (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Kyong Sik (Minister of the People’s Armed Forces), Kim Kyong Hui (KWP Secretary and KJU’s aunt), Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department), Choe Tae Bok (KWP Secretary and SPA Chairman), Kang Sok Ju (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier), Kim Yong Il (KWP Secretary and Director of the International Affairs Department),  Kim Yang Gon (KWP Secretary and Director of the United Front Department),  Kim P’yo’ng-hae (KWP Secretary and Director of Cadres’ Affairs), Kwak Pom Gi (KWP Secretary and Director of the Planning and Finance Department), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Col. Gen. O Il Jong (Director of the KWP Military Affairs Department), Han Kwang Sang (Deputy Director of the KWP Finance and Accounting Department) Paek Kye Ryong (Director of the KWP Light Industry Department), Kim Kyong Ok (Senior Deputy [first vice] Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department), Gen. Kim Yong Chol (Chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau and Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff) and Jon Il Chun (Deputy Director of the KWP Finance and Accounting Department), among others.

Kim Jong Un began his visit at Haedanghwa Health Complex’s basement garage.  According to KCNA, KJU “was pleased to see the completed complex, adding that he appreciated its design and construction after examining the information on it presented to him by the relevant field.”  He also visited the store and dining rooms on the complex’s first two levels.  He “highly praised the builders for constructing not only the shop but the dining rooms to suit their nature and meet the requirements of formative art,” according to KCNA.  KJU visited the restaurant where he remarked that “cooking is a science and art, [he urged] the cookers to steadily improve their skills and display creative ingenuity to serve customers with varieties of tasty and highly nutritive dishes” and had a commemorative photograph taken with the chefs.  KJU then went to the second and third levels of the Haedanghwa Health Complex where he visited the public baths, saunas a barber shop, hair salon skin treatment center, workout room, billiard room and other recreational facilities.  KCNA reported that Kim Jong Un “personally checked the temperature of water at the bath and learnt about service provided at a face treatment room” and “was pleased to see the wading pool. He was also pleased to go round various saunas built with peculiar building materials such as halite, agate and yellow earth.”  KJU also “learnt in detail about what kinds of sports apparatuses are there in the fitness hall and table-tennis hall” and whilst “watching the clock in the shape of billiard balls and billiard table on a wall of the billiard room, he praised the builders for having constructed the room in such a perfect manner that everything there is impeccable.”

KJU then visited the health complex’s e-library and, according to KCNA, said “a relevant field should systematically send various data and videos on cooking to the e-reading room” and he “stressed the need to supply a sufficient quantity of foodstuff necessary for cooking practice so that apprentices may acquire workable knowledge, saying that theory is not enough to acquire cooking skill.”  He also visited a coffee shop on the complex’s fifth floor.  According to KCNA Kim Jong Un said that “it is the firm resolution of the WPK to enable the Korean people, the best in the world, to fully enjoy wealth and glory under socialism, without tightening their belts again, he noted, underlining the need to build more modern service centers such as the Haedanghwa Health Complex impeccable in any aspect.”

Wreath Laying Ceremonies Commemorate 121st anniversary of Kang Pan Sok’s Birth

A floral wreath-laying ceremony at the grave Kang Pan Sok (1892-1932) in Mangyo’ngdae, Pyongyang on 21 April 2013. The ceremony marked the 121st anniversary of Kang’s birth in 1892. (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

Members of the DPRK’s central leadership attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Kang Pan Sok’s grave in Pyongyang on 22 April 2013 In attendance at the graveside ceremony are Mun Kyong Dok (L), VMar Kim Yong Chun (2nd L), Kim Ki Nam (3rd L), Yang Hyong Sop (4th L) and Ro Ru Chol (5th L) (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

SPA Chairman and KWP Secretary Choe Tae Bok (3rd L) leads a group of senior DPRK officials participating in a floral wreath-laying ceremony at the Chilgol Revolutionary Site in Pyongyang on 21 April 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrabs)

DPRK state media reported on 21 April (Sunday) that floral wreath laying ceremonies were held at the grave and birthplace of Kang Pan Sok (1892-1932) [Kang Pan-so'k], mother of the late DPRK President and founder Kim Il Sung.  Attending the wreath-laying ceremony at her grave were Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary Kim Ki Nam, National Defense Commission [NDC] Vice Chairman and Director of the KWP Civil Defense Department VMar Kim Yong Chun, Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop, Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok and DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol.  Attending the ceremony at Chilgol Revolutionary Site, Kang Pan Sok’s birthplace, were SPA Chairman and KWP Secretary Choe Tae Bok and Lt. Gen. Ri Tong Su.  The wreath-laying ceremonies were also attended by “other senior officials, the chairman of a friendly party, and officials of party and power organs, working people’s organizations, ministries and national institutions, those in the field of education, service personnel and Pyongyangites.”

Participants in a wreath-laying ceremony bow in front of the grave of Kang Pan Sok in Pyongyang on 21 April 2013 (Photo: KCTV screengrab)

Jon Il Chun (annotated), a principal of the Taesong Group, deputy director of the KWP Finance and Accounting Department and chief of Office #39, helps carry a floral wreath to the Kang Pan Sok statue in Chilgol Revolutionary Site in Pyongyang on 21 April 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

Statue of Kang Pan Sok at Chilgol Revolutionary Site, her birthplace, a floral basket from Kim Jong Un and a KPA band play at a 21 April 2013 wreath laying ceremony for Kang on the 121st anniversary of her birth (Photo: KCTV screengrabs)

Wreath laying ceremony at Chilgol Revolutionary Site in Pyongyang on 21 April 2013. (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

Floral wreaths from Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n), the KWP Central Committee, the SPA Presidium, the DPRK Cabinet and “working people’s organizations, ministries and national institutions, military academies, educational institutions, revolutionary schools and party and power organs, farms, etc. in Pyongyang” were placed before Kang Pan Sok’s grave in Mangyo’ngdae and in front of a statue of her at the Chilgol Revolutionary Site.  According to KCNA the ceremonies’ “participants paid silent tribute to her, recollecting her noble life and feats for bringing up President Kim Il Sung to be the sun of the nation and dedicating herself to the liberation of the country and people’s freedom and happiness.”

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.

Tree Planting Day Observed

DPRK state media reported on 1 March (Friday) that Korean Workers’ Party [KWP], Korean People’s Army [KPA], the DPRK Government and various social organizations participated in the planting of tree in observance of “tree-planting day.”  KCNA reported that “with this day as an occasion, many trees of good species have been planted in different parts of the country, including the Arboretum of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and Moran Hill in Pyongyang” and that the “Ministry of Land and Environmental Conservation and other forestry fields channeled big efforts to providing saplings of species suitable to different zones and plots, paying attention to increasing the rate of rooting.”

Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Kim Kyok Sik speaks a meeting of KPA personnel prior to planting trees near Ku’msusan in Pyongyang (Photo: KCTV screengrab)

KPA service members and officers (L) and senior KPA officials (R) attend a meeting before planting trees near Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun (Photo: KCTV screengrabs)

KPA service members and officers plant trees in the parks and arboretum near Ku’msusan on 1 March 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

On 1 March KPA service members and officers held a meeting in the park and arboretum near the Ku’msusan Memorial Palace of the Sun.  Attending the meeting were members of the KPA’s high command including Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Kim Kyok Sik and 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces and Director of the KPA General Logistics Department VMar Hyon Chol Hae, along with KPA service members along with cadets and students of military schools “at all levels.”  Gen. Kim delivered the meeting’s report which was followed by a speaking program where it was said “Generalissimo Kim Jong Il put forward the KPA in the mass tree-planting movement, true to Generalissimo Kim Il Sung’s intention of building a prosperous country.  Mapping out a grand plan of the land development, Kim Jong Un made sure that modern tree nurseries were built, and energetically led the work for spreading new species of lawn to the whole country.”  According to KCNA “they called on all the service personnel to turn out in the tree planting, true to the intention of Kim Jong Un and fully display their patriotic enthusiasm.”  After the speeches, the meeting participants planted trees around Ku’msusan.

Jon Yong Nam (L), Chairman of the Kim Il Sung (Socialist) Youth League Central Committee, addresses a meeting (C) prior to planting trees (R) (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

On 1 March DPRK state media reported that “working people and school youth and children across the country turned out in the patriotic work with a single mind to successfully embody Kim Jong Il’s patriotism for turning the country into the people’s paradise and a socialist fairyland in thick verdure on the occasion of March 2, the Tree-Planting Day.”  Members of the DPRK’s central leadership attended various tree planting events in and around Pyongyang, and tree planting events were held in North P’yo’ngan Province, South Hamgyo’ng Province, North Hamgyo’ng Province and the city of Wo’nsan, Kangwo’n Province.  Attending events in and around Pyongyang were Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim, KWP Secretary and SPA Chairman Choe Tae Bok, SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop, DPRK Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman Ro Tu Chol and Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City (municipal) KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok.  Speaking programs were held prior to the tree planting activities.

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim, KWP Secretary Pak To Chun and other officials (L) attend a meeting prior to planting trees in Pyongyang (R) on 1 March 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

KWP Secretary Choe Thae Bok and Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City KWP Committee Mun Kyong Dok and other officials (L) attend a Korean Democratic Women’s Union tree planting event (R). KDWU Chairwoman Ro Song Sil (C) delivers a report. (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

Tree planting activities held in the provinces on 1 March 2013 (Photos: KCTV screengrabs)

According to the speeches noted “President Kim Il Sung, together with general secretary Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Suk, an anti-Japanese war hero, climbed Moran Hill in Pyongyang on March 2, Juche 35 (1946) and called for planting many trees on mountains” and “called upon all people to turn out in the spring tree-planting campaign with one mind of ardent patriotism to plant and grow many trees in the country.”  The speeches also noted that in March 2012 Kim Jong Un “personally planted a tree he took there, they said, underscoring the need to turn the mountains and fields into thick and green socialist fairyland” when he visited the KPA Strategic Rocket Force Command (identified by KCNA as “a unit of the People’s Army”).

Kim Il Sung (L), Kim Jong Il (C) and Kim Jong Un (at the Strategic Rocket Force Command) ceremoniously planting trees over the years (Photos: Foreign Languages Publishing House, KCNA-Yonhap, Rodong Sinmun, Party History Institute)

KJU Attends Watch Presentation Ceremony

Overview of a ceremonny at the KWP Central Committee Conference Hall (L) at which gold wristwatches were presented as “state decorations” by Kim Jong Un (R) as part of events commemorating late leader Kim Jong Il’s birthday (Photos: KCNA, KCNA-Yonhap)

DPRK state media reported on 15 February (Friday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended a ceremony at which gold wristwatches  were awarded to “service personnel, scientists, technicians and labor innovators who have performed brilliant feats in the defence of the country and in the building of a thriving socialist nation.”  The wristwatches are engraved with the late leader Kim Jong Il’s name, and awarded to commemorate the anniversary of KJI’s birth.  KJU’s last reported public appearance was his chairing and participating in an expanded meeting of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Central Military Commission [CMC].

Kim Jong Un presents a gold watch bearing his late father’s name. Seen in attendance behind KJU are Kim Ki Nam (L), Kim Yong Nam (2nd L) and Kim Phyong Hae (4th) and behind KJU are officials of the KWP Central Committee Gifts Office (Gifts Hall) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un presents a gold wristwatch at a February 2013 ceremony (L) and his late father Kim Jong Il presents a Swiss watch to a member of the Guard Command in July 2011 (R) (Photos: KCNA-Yonhap, KCTV screengrab)

Attending the watch presentation ceremony with KJU were Kim Yong Nam (President of the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium), Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department), Jang Song Taek (Vice Chairman of the National Defense Commission [NDC] and Director of the KWP Administration Department), Kim Kyong Hui (KWP Secretary and Department Director),  Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of the KWP Propaganda and Agitation Department), Choe Tae Bok (KWP Secretary of Education and Science), Pak To Chun (KWP Secretary of Machine-Building Industry), VMar Kim Yong Chun (Vice Chairman of the NDC and Director of the KWP Civil Defense Department), Kang Sok Ju (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier), Ri Yong Mu (Vice Chairman of the NDC), Gen. O Kuk Ryol (Vice Chairman of the NDC), Kim Yang Gon (KWP Secretary and Director of the United Front Department), Kim Yong Il (KWP Secretary and Director of the KWP International Affairs Department), Kim Pyong Hae (KWP Secretary and Director of the KWP Cadres Affairs Department), Kwak Pom Gi (KWP Secretary and Director of the KWP Finance and Planning Department), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ju Kyu Chang (Director of the KWP Machine-Building Industry Department), Jo Yon Jun (Senior Deputy (1st Vice) Director of the KWP Organization Guidance Department) and “other officials of the Central Committee of the WPK and armed forces organs.”

According to KCNA the presentation of the watches was “instituted as a state decoration for the first time in the history of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK)” and has “weighty significance in glorifying the immortal exploits of his revolutionary career and immortal feats forever and making all the Party members, service personnel and people live and work as his soldiers and disciples.”  The watch presentation ceremony was held at the KWP Central Committee’s Conference Hall.  Kim Yong Nam delivered a congratulatory speech in which he said, “The recipients of the watches should lead a worthy and brilliant life as backbone of the Korean revolution, always feeling grateful to the party for making them honored with watches bearing the august name of Kim Jong Il before any others.”  After Kim Jong Un presented the watches, the recipients “renewed their resolution to always hold President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the sun of Juche and steadfastly advance along the road of the Songun revolution, true to the leadership of the party.”

Here is a short photo essay [PDF] about an informal watch presentation ceremony in which Kim Jong Il participated in July 2012.

Area of the KWP Central Committee #1 Office Complex in central Pyongyang, showing two possible venues for watch presentation ceremony. The ceremony likely occurred in the structure marked Conference Hall #1. (Photo: Google images; lines and placemarks by Michael Madden/NKLW)

Political Bureau Meeting

The KWP CC Political Bureau, as of January 2013 (Photo: NK Leadership Watch graphic)

DPRK state media reported on 12 February (Tuesday) that the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Political Bureau met on 11 February (Monday).  The meeting, attended by “members of the Presidium, members and alternate members,” adopted the decision ”On marking the 65th anniversary of the DPRK and the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War as grand festivals of victors.”  The Political Bureau’s position “stressed the need to continue launching satellites of Kwangmyo’ngso’ng series and powerful long-range rockets.”  According to KCNA the Political Bureau’s decision was:

The decision emphasized the need to further deepen and accomplish the sacred cause of holding in high esteem the great Comrade Kim Il Sung and Comrade Kim Jong Il as eternal leaders of the WPK and the revolution.

The decision called for splendidly and significantly organizing political events marking the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War and the 65th anniversary of the DPRK.

According to it, various political events will be held with splendor to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War. They will include a parade of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), mass demonstration of Pyongyang citizens, grand mass gymnastic and artistic performance “Arirang” and army-people joint meeting with war veterans.

The decision stressed the need to successfully rebuild the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and spruce up the revolutionary battle sites, revolutionary sites and revolutionary museums including the revolutionary museum at Kim Il Sung University, the Museum of the Fatherland Liberation War and the Jonsung Revolutionary Museum.

It called for newly building a martyrs cemetery of the KPA in Pyongyang and sprucing up KPA martyrs cemeteries and monuments to the fallen fighters of the KPA in various parts of the country.

It underlined the need to resolutely foil all the hostile forces’ moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK by achieving proud victory in building an economic power and improving the people’s living standard.

It also underscored the need for all fields and units to do a lot of good works for the prosperity of the country and its people’s happiness on the occasion of the 65th birthday of the Republic.

It called for staging an all-out action of high intensity for reliably protecting the security and sovereignty of the country in view of the prevailing grave situation and marking the 65th anniversary of the DPRK and the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War with fresh achievements in bolstering up capability for self-defence.

It stressed the need to continue launching satellites of Kwangmyongsong series and powerful long-range rockets.

It called on the KPA to keep itself fully ready for combat and put maximum spurs to rounding off its combat preparedness in order to bolster up one-beats-a hundred combat capability. It stressed that once an order is issued, the KPA should blow up the stronghold of aggression at a strike and wipe out the brigandish U.S. imperialists and south Korean puppet army to the last man and thus accomplish the historic cause of national reunification.

The decision called for sincerely helping the army and significantly conducting the work for putting forward and preferentially treating the war veterans and wartime merited persons as a social movement on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the war victory.

It underscored the need to give further spurs to building a highly civilized socialist nation.

It referred to the tasks for completing the preparations for the universal 12-year compulsory education within this year, establishing a medical information service network and telemedicine system, building a children’s hospital, a dental hospital and a recovery center and winding up the first phase project for updating the Hungnam Pharmaceutical Factory.

It also underscored the need to build a modern combined center for sports trainings and different kinds of mass sporting facilities and raise hot wind of sports throughout the country.

It called for face-lifting the central part of Pyongyang and building more modern cultural facilities including pleasure grounds and Munsu Wading Pool.

The decision stressed the need to arouse all compatriots to the struggle for resolutely foiling the anti-DPRK moves and “sanctions” racket of the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet group of traitors and thoroughly implementing the June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration so as to open up a new phase for national reunification.

It called for conducting external activities to grandly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War as a common event for the anti-imperialist independent forces and the world progressive people.

The Political Bureau along with other organizations of the
KWP Central Committee (Graphic: Michael Madden/NK Leadership Watcher (NKLW))