DPRK Foreign Ministry Knocks UNSC Presidential Statement

Photo: KCNA-Yonhap

With reports that it retracted an invitation to the IAEA, the DPRK’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on 17 April (Tuesday) which defended its launch of the U’nha-3 rocket.  It also said the country would not “be bound” to the 29 February “Leap Day Deal” it made with the United States.   The statement was a direct response to a 16 April 2012 United Nations Security Council [UNSC] presidential statement which characterized the launch as a violation of existing UN sanctions.  Unlike other statements from the DPRK Foreign Ministry did not contain any overt threats and minimized nuclear and ballistic invocations.  KCNA reports:

The U.S. and its followers committed a hostile act of violating the DPRK’s right to satellite launch by abusing the United Nations Security Council again.

On April 16 the UNSC issued a statement of its chairman “condemning” the DPRK’s satellite launch for peaceful purposes.

The DPRK took steps to show the sincerity and transparency of the satellite launch for peaceful purposes to the maximum from A to Z as an exception and aroused sympathy of broad world public.

The U.S., finding it hard to conceal the truth, after hatching all sorts of dastardly trick to prevent the peaceful nature of the DPRK’s satellite launch from being confirmed objectively and persistently term it a long-range missile launch, imposed upon the UNSC its brigandish demand that the DPRK should not be allowed to launch even a satellite for peaceful purposes.

The UNSC has been abused under the pressure of high-handed and arbitrary practices of the U.S. and its catastrophic consequences have been felt still today in various parts of the world.

UNSC resolutions 1718 and 1874 which the hostile forces regard as the “ground” to take issue with the DPRK’s satellite launch are a product of their high-handed policy for antagonizing and oppressing the DPRK and the height of illegality they faked up at random, disregarding even universally accepted international law.

It is the brigandish essence of these resolutions that those countries which refuse to meekly obey the U.S. should not be allowed to develop their national defence capability and to this end they should be deprived of even their right to launch satellites for peaceful purposes.

Such unreasonable double standards are possible at the UNSC because such standards are in line with the interests of those countries keen to monopolize such cutting-edge technology as satellite launch.

The present developments clearly show that the principle of equality as regards sovereignty clarified in the UN Charter is a mere high-sounding word and justice should be protected by one’s own efforts.

The DPRK Foreign Ministry declares as follows in connection with the grave infringement upon the right of the sovereign state to launch satellites for peaceful purposes:

Firstly, we resolutely and totally reject the unreasonable behavior of the UNSC to violate the DPRK’s legitimate right to launch satellites.

It is the unshakable principle of the army and people of the DPRK not to tolerate even the slightest element to deride and encroach upon the dignity of the nation and the sovereignty of the country.

Secondly, we will continue exercising the independent right to use space recognized by the universally accepted international laws which are above the UNSC resolutions.

We will expand and strengthen space development institutions and continue launching a variety of working satellites needed for economic development of the country including geostationary satellites under the state plan for space development.

Nothing can stand in the way of the DPRK’s space development for peaceful purposes.

Thirdly, as the U.S. violated the Feb. 29 DPRK-U.S. agreement through its undisguised hostile acts, we will no longer be bound to it.

We have repeatedly clarified from the outset that we will sincerely implement the Feb. 29 agreement to the last and took practical steps to implement it as the satellite launch for peaceful purposes is an issue quite different from the agreement.

No sooner had the DPRK’s plan for satellite launch been announced than the U.S. suspended the process for the provision of food pursuant to the DPRK-U.S. agreement under that pretext. This time, the U.S. spearheaded the hostile act of encroaching upon the DPRK’s legitimate right to launch satellites by abusing the position as chairman of the UNSC.

The U.S. finally reneged on its promise that “it respects the sovereignty of the DPRK and has no hostile intent toward it” in practice, totally violating the Feb. 29 agreement.

We have thus become able to take necessary retaliatory measures, free from the agreement. The U.S. will be held wholly accountable for all the ensuing consequences.

Peace is very dear for us but the dignity of the nation and the sovereignty of the country are dearer for us.

The UNSC presidential statement said:

1. The Security Council strongly condemns the 13 April 2012 (local time) launch by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

2. The Security Council underscores that this satellite launch, as well as any launch that uses ballistic missile technology, even if characterized as a satellite launch or space launch vehicle, is a serious violation of Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009).

3. The Security Council deplores that such a launch has caused grave security concerns in the region.

4. The Security Council demands that the DPRK not proceed with any further launches using ballistic missile technology and comply with resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009) by suspending all activities related to its ballistic missile program and in this context reestablish its preexisting commitments to a moratorium on missile launches.

5. The Security Council agrees to adjust the measures imposed by paragraph 8 of resolution 1718 (2006), as modified by resolution 1874 (2009). The Security Council directs the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) to undertake the following tasks and to report to the Security Council within fifteen days: a) Designate additional entities and items; b) Update the information contained on the Committee’s list of individuals, entities, and items (S/2009/205 and INFCIRC/254/Rev.9/Part.1), and update on an annual basis thereafter; c) Update the Committee’s annual work plan.

6. The Security Council further agrees that, if the Committee has not acted pursuant to the paragraph above within fifteen days, then the Security Council will complete action to adjust these measures within an additional five days.

7. The Security Council demands that the DPRK immediately comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009), including that it: abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner; immediately cease all related activities; and not conduct any further launches that use ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any further provocation.

8. The Security Council calls upon all Member States to implement fully their obligations pursuant to resolutions 1718 (2006) and 1874 (2009).

9. The Security Council expresses its determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch or nuclear test.

DPRK Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Suspension of US Aid

DPRK Foreign Ministry (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (Photo: Google image)

The DPRK’s Foreign Ministry described the suspension of nutritional assistance by the United States as an “overreaction” to the planned mid-April launch of U’nha-3 with the Kwangmyo’ngso’ng-3 satellite  The Foreign Ministry’s spokesman also said that the US “would not send its experts and also forced other countries not to send one,” a reference to the DPRK’s invitation to “experienced experts” to observe the U’nha-3 launch.  KCNA reports:

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA Saturday as regards the U.S. moves to exploit the DPRK’s planned launch of satellite Kwangmyongsong-3 for meeting its sinister political and military purposes:

The U.S. overreaction to the DPRK’s plan to launch scientific and technological satellite for peaceful purposes has gone beyond the limit.

The U.S. has so far insisted that it does not relate humanitarian issue with the political issue. But it responded to the DPRK’s planned satellite launch with the announcement to stop following through on its commitment to food aid. This would be a regrettable act of scrapping the DPRK-U.S. agreement in its entirety as it is a violation of the core articles of the February 29 DPRK-U.S. agreement.

The DPRK extended invitation to satellite experts to visit the launching station to show the sincerity of the DPRK as regards the peaceful satellite launch in a transparent manner. But the U.S. clarified that it would not send its experts and also forced other countries not to send one.

This stands in sharp contrast to its previous insistence that the DPRK should accept inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure the transparency of its nuclear activities.

What the U.S. fears is the objective confirmation of the peaceful nature of the DPRK’s satellite launch.

It has its own political and military objective in describing the DPRK’s satellite launch as a long-range missile launch.

By describing the DPRK’s “long-range missile capabilities” as a “threat to the U.S. mainland”, the U.S. seeks to justify its missile defense system, which is opposed by all the countries in Northeast Asia, and use it as a pretext for pressing forward the MD.

The path chosen by the U.S. would harass peace and stability in Northeast Asia including the Korean Peninsula and spark off fresh cold war.

The DPRK has not yet reached such a point as to discuss the severity and gravity of the consequences to be entailed by the U.S. wrong option.

It just hopes that the U.S. would courageously accept peaceful satellite launch by a sovereign state, though belatedly, and prove in practice its words that it has no hostility toward the DPRK.

Kyodo reports:

North Korea warned the United States on Saturday that suspending food aid to the country under a bilateral food-for-nuclear deal would amount to scrapping the agreement “in its entirety.”

The deal, struck in Beijing and announced Feb. 29, commits North Korea to implement moratoriums on nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and uranium enrichment activities in exchange for 240,000 tons of U.S. food aid.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry sounded the warning in criticizing the United States for signaling the suspension of planned food aid if Pyongyang goes ahead with the launch of a “satellite” in mid-April that Washington says violates a 2006 U.N. Security Council resolution.

The United States “responded to the DPRK’s planned satellite launch with the announcement to stop following through on its commitment to food aid. This would be a regrettable act of scrapping the DPRK-U.S. agreement in its entirety as it is a violation of the core articles of the February 29 DPRK-U.S. agreement,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency.

DPRK is the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

North Korea says it plans to launch an “earth observation satellite” between April 12 and 16, prompting condemnation from Washington and other countries.

Critics say the planned satellite launch by a carrier rocket is a covert test of a long-range ballistic missile in defiance of the U.N. resolution, which bans North Korea from using ballistic missile technology.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said the United States rejected an invitation from North Korea to send satellite experts to the launch site to ensure transparency in the planned launch.

“The U.S. clarified that it would not send its experts and also forced other countries not to send one,” the spokesman was quoted as saying. “What the U.S. fears is the objective confirmation of the peaceful nature of the DPRK’s satellite launch.”

The spokesman urged Washington to “courageously accept a peaceful satellite launch by a sovereign state, though belatedly, and prove in practice its words that it has no hostility toward the DPRK.”

North Korea says the satellite launch, timed to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of state founder Kim Il Sung, is needed for the country’s economic development.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry said last week that preparations for the satellite launch have entered a “full-fledged stage of action.”

Kim Jong Un Inspects IV Army Corps Units

Kim Jong Un (2nd R) watches members of an artillery company training during an inspection of IV Army Corps in South Hwanghae Province (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

DPRK media reported on 25 February (Saturday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) inspected several units under the Korean People’s Army [KPA] IV Corps, including its 4th battalion which was responsible for the artillery shelling of  Yo’np’yo’ng Island on 23 November 2010.  According to KCNA he was accompanied by Gen. Kim Myong Kuk, Gen. Kim Won Hong, Gen. Pak Jae Gyong, Col. Gen. Hwang Pyong So, Col. Gen. Kim Chun Sam and personnel of the KPA Supreme Command.

He inspected the 1st and 4th Battalions under KPA Unit 403 stationed in the forefront area.

He gave the service personnel of the battalions pairs of binoculars and automatic rifles as souvenirs before having photo sessions with them.

He inspected combat positions of the 4th Battalion to learn in detail about its combat preparations.

The battalion is a proud sub-unit well known to the world as it turned Yonphyong Island into the one in flames by retaliating against south Korean puppet warmongers’ reckless shelling into territorial waters of the DPRK side to launch aggression through merciless shelling.

He highly appreciated the feats the soldiers performed by showing what the arms in the hands of the powerful revolutionary army of Mt. Paektu and the battle fought by it were like.

He went round a soldiers’ bedroom and wash-cum-bath house of a company under the battalion and took deep care of their living.

After viewing the combat positions of the sub-unit in the light of terrains and combat preparation, he said the present deployment of the sub-unit was not suitable from a tactical point of view, setting forth a task to courageously transfer and deploy its forces in new positions.

He went round a soldiers’ bedroom, education room and various other places of a company under the 1st Battalion to take warm care of the soldiers’ living.

He inspected a forward command post of KPA Unit 688 stationed in a forefront area.

He mounted the forward command post where he learned about the deployment of reinforced forces and equipment of the unit defending Yonphyong Island of the south Korean puppet army.

Feasting his eyes on vast defence theatres in the forefront area and the land of the south whose sky is overcast with dark clouds of war due to the enemy’s preparations for a new war of aggression such as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises, he learned in detail about the terrains, the distribution of forces of the unit and its guard duty.

He put forward the important tasks which would serve as guidelines for increasing the combat capability of the unit in every way and consolidating the defence theatre as firm as a rock in view of provocations of the enemy.

He continued his journey to inspect a battalion under KPA Unit 493 stationed in a forefront area.

He mounted a watch post of a costal artillery battalion under the unit where he looked over Paekryong Island near from it and learned about its guard duty.

Asking if there is any change in the enemy’s recent movements and how combat and technical equipment and forces are deployed, he underlined the need to further increase the density of firing in the future and steadily revise and supplement the proposal for sharing the firing duties and using equipment as required by a modern warfare and the changing deployment of enemy’s forces.

He guided soldiers of Artillery Piece No. 1 of the Second Company under the battalion in firepower training.

He inspected a battalion under KPA Unit 641 stationed in the forefront area.

He gave the soldiers of the battalion a pair of binoculars, automatic rife and machinegun as souvenirs before having a photo session with them.

Making the rounds of an education room, bedroom, mess hall and other cultural and educational and supply service facilities, he paid deep attention to the service and living of soldiers.

The southwestern sector of the front is a hot spot where a war may break out any moment due to the enemy’s reckless provocations for aggression, he noted, calling for keeping the service personnel on utmost alert in view of the touch-and-go situation. He ordered them to make a powerful retaliatory strike at the enemy, should the enemy intrude even 0.001 mm into the waters of the country where its sovereignty is exercised.

Kim Jong Un (2nd R) visits a coastal defense position during an inspection of the IV Army Corps (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un (2nd R) looks through binoculars from a command post, as part of an inspection of the IV Army Corps. Also seen in attendance are Gen. Kim Won Hong (L), Col. Gen. Pyon In Son (2nd L) and Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (R) According to South Korean media, Col. Gen. Pyon, a former deputy defense minister, assumed command of IV Corps in August 2011 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

KJU’s appearance was reported not long after the DPRK’s National Defense Commission [NDC] published a report in state media that threatened “a sacred war to counter of our own style and protect the security of the nation and the peace of the country” as a reaction to the annual joint US-ROK military exercises Key Resolve/Foal Eagle.  The NDC’s statement was released as US and DPRK diplomats concluded a third interaction over the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program in Beijing.

The Lee Myung Bak group of traitors has embarked upon the road of kicking off again DPRK-targeted Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises in league with the brigandish U.S. imperialists, defying strong domestic and foreign public protest and condemnation.

Huge troops of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces and their strike means have already been deployed in south Korea and in its vicinity and huge forces of the three services of the puppet army have been put on a wartime posture.

Key Resolve and Foal Eagle are unpardonable war hysteria kicked up by the hooligans to desecrate our mourning period and an unpardonable infringement upon our sovereignty and dignity.

This is, at the same time, a blatant challenge to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and an undisguised act of disturbing them.

The on-going development goes to prove that the Lee group which is more dead than alive, forsaken by the times, is still resorting to the last-ditch moves for war, backed by its American master.

In view of the prevailing situation, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK clarifies the following principled stand internally and externally:

First. Our army and people will foil the moves of the group of traitors to the nation and warmongers at home and abroad for a new war with a sacred war of our own style.

We have so far made every possible effort to avert a war and defend peace with a high degree of patience and magnanimity.

The Lee group and the warmongers at home and abroad are, however, unhesitatingly plunging to the road of an adventurous war, dreaming of “Egyptian style change” and “Libyan style victory”, ignorant of who their rival is.

War maneuvers staged against the belligerent party are, in essence, a silent declaration of a war.

The declaration of the war is bound to be accompanied by a corresponding physical retaliation.

Now that a war has been declared against us, the army and people are firmly determined to counter it with a sacred war of our own style and protect the security of the nation and the peace of the country.

The target of this war is the Lee group and hordes of warmongers at home and abroad.

The Lee group is hordes of traitors for all ages as it is rubbing salt into the wound of the compatriots grieving over the great loss to the nation through a renewed saber-rattling, not content with the high treason it had already committed during that period.

The U.S. imperialists are the sworn enemy keen to launch another war of aggression to impose “American style political mode” upon us, not content with the painful tragedy of division forced upon our nation, the tragedy that has lasted for more than half a century.

The sacred war will make a clean sweep of the Lee group and those warmongers from this land by the war mode of our own style, our strong striking means unknown to the world.

Second. The just struggle of the people in the south and overseas compatriots will be further intensified to bring down the Lee regime under the motto of peace against war.

The Lee group is nothing but human scum which had been forsaken by all Koreans already long ago.

“Myung Bak, quit” and “Let’s judge the Lee Myung Bak regime and set up a new government for national reconciliation.” This is the shout of the political and social circles in south Korea and the mind-set there.

The Lee regime is little short of a ship in distress which began sinking in face of the stormy waves of the angry public.

We admonished the group enough to make it understand and set an example in the four years of its office and showed it through an actual battle what our strike that turned waters into a sea in flames.

This being a hard reality, the Lee regime is still persisting in sycophancy, submission and treachery, failing to come to its senses.

That is why we branded the group of traitors as the one which should not be let to go scot-free.

In response to the mind-set in the south, our army and people will encourage and firmly back the people in the south and overseas compatriots in their nation-wide struggle to bring down the Lee regime in the idea of attaching importance to the nation and putting it above anything else and from a patriotic stand.

Third. Our army and people will show the U.S. imperialist warmongers hell-bent on war of aggression and intervention what their arms and real war are like.

It is the U.S. imperialist aggressors who are chiefly to blame for having driven into a phase of war the unstable situation on the peninsula where neither war nor peace has persisted for such a long period. It is again those warmongers who have staged ceaseless provocative war maneuvers in south Korea and in its vicinity, pursuant to their scenarios for a war of aggression against the north to confirm their feasibility.

In view of the intensified moves of the U.S. imperialists to ignite a war against the DPRK, they will shatter reckless military provocations, arms build-up and war maneuvers with increased posture to fight a resolute battle against the U.S. and launch a struggle of high intensify to drive out of this land the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces, the main hurdle lying in the way of achieving peace and security on the peninsula.

They will always keep the bases of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces and centers for their military operations against the DPRK within striking range and wipe them out at a single blow, should they provoke us.

Nuclear weapons are not the monopoly of the U.S. We have war means more powerful than the U.S. nukes and ultra-modern striking equipment which no one has ever possessed.

The U.S. is sadly mistaken if it thinks it is safe as its mainland is far away across the ocean.

There is no limit to the striking intensity and range of our army and people to wipe out the aggressors.

It is their unchangeable stand to show the enemy what their arms and real war are like.

The ongoing struggle to bury the group of traitors and warmongers at home and abroad is a patriotic struggle on which the destiny of the nation in the new century of Juche year hinges.

No force on earth can overpower the single-mindedly united army and people of the DPRK.

Under the leadership of the peerless brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu they will usher in a new era of national reconciliation and peace and prosperity proudly and forcefully, shattering every war move of the enemy.

KJI Meets Chinese Ambassador

Kim Jong Il met with PRC Ambassador to the DPRK, Liu Hongcai, and personnel from the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang on 31 October (Monday).  According to KCNA, Ambassador Liu talked about Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to the DPRK during 24-25 October, as well as Kim Jong Il’s two trips to China in May and August.  KJI hosted a dinner reception for Liu and the embassy staff members who accompanied him.  According to KCNA, KJI was joined by Kim Kyong Hui, Kim Jong Un, Jang Song Taek, as well as chief of the KPA General Staff,VMar Ri Yong Ho, CC KWP Secretary and United Front Department Director Kim Yang Gon, and CC KWP Secretary and International Department Director Kim Yong Il.  The commemorative group photograph also showed in attendance: CC KWP Secretary and NDC Member, Pak To Chun and KPA Generals Pak Jae Gyong, Kim Kyong Ok, Kim Won Hong and Hyon Chol Hae.

KCNA reported:

The ambassador said that new landmark events took place in the relations between the two parties and countries in this meaningful year, the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Sino- DPRK treaty of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, further promoting their development.

He noted that General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited China in May and August, performing immortal feats in consolidating and developing the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship.

Li Yuanchao, member of the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the C.C., the CPC who is head of its Organization Department, Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the CPC and vice-premier of the State Council of China, Meng Jianzhu, State councilor and minister of Public Security of China, and other senior officials of the Chinese party and government visited the DPRK in this meaningful year, he said, adding: They were received by Kim Jong Il and had in-depth discussions and reached effective agreements with Korean comrades on the important issues arising in boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and countries in different fields including politics, economy and culture.

Liu Hongcai and the staff members of the embassy expressed heartfelt thanks to Kim Jong Il for sparing precious time to meet them again though he was very busy steering the building of a prosperous and powerful nation and manifested their will to make positive efforts for the steady development of the Sino-DPRK friendship.

Xinhua reported:

Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), met the Chinese ambassador to the DPRK on Monday and praised the Chinese embassy for its contribution to the development of Sino-DPRK relations.

According to a report of DPRK’s official KCNA news agency, Kim highly appreciated the positive efforts made by the Chinese embassy to contribute the development of the DPRK-China friendly and cooperative relations.

Ambassador Liu Hongcai conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao to the DPRK leader.

Liu said Kim’s two visits to China this year had played an important role in consolidating and developing the traditional China-DPRK friendship.

The DPRK leader also hosted a dinner for Liu and staff members of the embassy.

Also present at the meeting were Kim Jong Un, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), Ri Yong Ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK, and some other DPRK officials.

The meeting and dinner with Liu ended a particularly busy October for Kim Jong Il.  It aoccurred one week after KJI met with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and as the Chinese finalized preparations for the launch of the  Shenzhou 8 space vehicle.  KJI’s meeting with Liu also took place the same day DPRK Senior (First) Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Kye Gwan, was scheduled to meet with Chinese 6 Party Talks representative Wu Dawei in Beijing; incidentally, newly appointed 6PT ROK envoy Lim Sung-nam was slated to meet Wu on Tuesday (1 November).  China Daily reports:

According to the press release, a number of top leaders of the DPRK joined Kim at the dinner, including Kim Jong-un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), and Ri Yong-ho, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK.

Liu Jiangyong, a specialist on Northeast Asia studies at Tsinghua University, said, based on the guest list, “Kim took almost all the main leaders in the DPRK to the dinner”.

“The move reflects the consensus reached in the DPRK leadership on the high importance they attach to China. Also we can see they’re quite satisfied with Li’s visit and the work of the ambassador,” Liu said.

The DPRK thanked China for its positive attitude on continuing and developing bilateral relations, highlighted by Li’s visit, Liu said.

Zhang Liangui, a professor at the Research Institute for International Strategic Studies, which is affiliated with the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said Kim has a tradition of showing hospitality to Chinese ambassadors to the DPRK, and even visited the Chinese embassy to celebrate the Lantern Festival.

Zhang noted the event was also possibly linked to Kim Kye-gwan’s China tour. The Foreign Ministry said on its website that Kim met Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and China’s top envoy for Korean Peninsula affairs Wu Dawei, without providing details.

“It’s highly likely that Kim Kye-gwan notified Beijing about his talks with Stephen Bosworth,” Zhang said. Kim said after the talks with Bosworth that “big progress” had been made and the two sides had agreed to meet again.

Kim and top Chinese diplomats may also have discussed the resumption of the Six-Party Talks, Zhang said.

This latest DPRK-PRC interaction also took place several days after the premiere of the P’ibada Opera Troupe’s staging of Butterfly Lovers (Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai) at Dongfang Theater in Changchun on 25 October.  The P’ibada Opera Troupe will give 30 performances of the opera during a three month tour of 12 Chinese cities.  Among the officials in attendance at the opera’s opening night was the newly appointed DPRK Consul in Shenyang, Kim Kwang Hun.

DPRK Premier Meets with Wen Jiabao, Begins PRC Visit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L, front) and his counterpart of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Yong Rim inspect the guard of honor during a welcome ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim arrived in Beijing on Monday (26 September) to begin a five-day “goodwill” visit to China.  During his trip, Choe will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu Province.  The visit is Choe’s second trip to China in less than a year, having visited the northeastern part of the country during early November 2010.  The visit occurs one week after a copper mine in the DPRK’s Yanggang Province was reopened as a joint venture between the DPRK and PRC, as well following a visit to Beijing by DPRK Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong Ho during which he spoke at a 6-Party Talks symposium and met with his ROK counterpart.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (3rd L) holds talks with his counterpart of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Yong Rim in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

On Monday, Choe met with China’s Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao.  Xinhua reports:

“Under the context of the complicated regional and international situation, the parties, governments and peoples of China and the DPRK…made joint efforts to push forward bilateral ties,” Wen told Choe at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. China will maintain the exchange of high-level visits, deepen strategic contact and safeguard common interests with the DPRK so as to promote friendship and cooperation between the two sides, Wen said after a red-carpet welcoming ceremony for Choe. Wen hailed the DPRK’s achievements in developing its economy and improving its people’s livelihoods, adding that China will further share its experiences in governance and economic development with the DPRK. “China supports the DPRK’s exploration of its own way of development in accordance with its domestic situation, and will continue to offer assistance within its capability,” Wen said. He called on the two sides to speed up mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as trade, investment, infrastructure, natural resources and agriculture. On the situation of the Korean Peninsula, Wen said China hopes that all sides can maintain contact and dialogue, improve relations and resume the six-party talks at an early date. Choe, also member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, said it’s a firm stance of the party and government of the DPRK to consolidate unity and cooperation with China. The DPRK will deepen cooperation with China in trade and infrastructure, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in the country, he said, pledging to offer convenience for that. On the six-party talks, Choe said the DPRK insists on the denuclearization of the peninsula via dialogue and consultation, proposing the resumption of talks without preconditions and pledging to maintain contact with China on that issue.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with his counterpart of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Yong Rim during a welcome ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Among those accompanying Choe on his trip are Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission, Ro Tu Chol (Ro Tu-ch’o'l) and Kim Sok Jun (Kim So’k-jun), who was identified as Minister of State Construction Control.  Kim Sok Jun replaced Pae Tal Jun (Pae Tal-jun), an appointment conveyed when DPRK media listed the members of Choe’s travel party.  Pae Tal Jun, a former Vice-Chairman of the Korea Architects Union and former Vice-Chairman of the State Construction Control Committee, had held the minister’s position since his appointment at the 1st session of the 10th Supreme People’s Assembly in September 1998.

In another personnel change, Ri Ki Bom is leaving his position as DPRK Consul General at the country’s Shenyang consulate.  Ri had served in that position since 2006, and he attended Kim Jong Il’s brief visit to northeastern China in August 2011.  Chinese newspapers reported on 20 and 21 September of Ri’s goodbye visits to Chinese party and government officials.

DPRK-ROK Beijing Interaction Ends Without Progress

Wi Sung-lac (R), South Korea's chief negotiator to the six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearization, and his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong-ho, sit in silence for a while at Chang An Club in Beijing on Sept. 21 prior to their talks on preconditions for the reopening of the stalled talks. The multilateral talks have been suspended since April 2009 when the North suddenly withdrew before conducting its second nuclear test a month later. (Yonhap)

Denuclearization talks held between the two Koreas on 21 September (Wednesday) in Beijing ended without any further progress toward resumption of the 6 Party Talks.  Despite any substantial movement toward the 6PT’s resumption, a ROK Foreign Ministry spokesman said the “two sides made progress on comprehensive issues on Wednesday.”  ROK’s chief representative at the interaction, Wi Sung-lac, told reporters, “We discussed the nuclear problem in general, and a meeting such as this is part of the efforts to restart the six-party talks.  We will keep putting in these efforts.”

The DPRK did not agree to any “pre-steps” on its part, a condition put forward by ROK.  Prior to the 21 September meeting, the DPRK reiterated previous statements about “unconditional return” to the 6PT, which indicated that the meetings would not be as “fruitful” as ROK officials had hoped.  The DPRK has said it will unveil a series of actions it would take, but only after the 6PT are reconvened.  On 19 September (Monday), the China Institute for International Studies hosted a symposium commemorating the six years since the 19 September joint statement.  The event was attended by 20 experts from the 6PT countries, as well as Australia and Singapore.

The keynote speech was delivered by PRC Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.  During his remarks Ri Yong Ho said, “Due to historical influence and the complexity of immediate interests, the easing of animosity between the two countries concerned becomes a crucial factor in the solution of the problem, and accordingly the Statement laid down the principles for the peaceful solution of this problem on the basis of mutual respect and equality.  Ri also said the symposium was “held at an opportune moment.”  KCNA later described the symposium as “fruitful.”

Despite a lack of superficial progress at the 6-year old denuclearization forum, which has been in recess for half that time, relations between the DPRK and ROK are not nearly as icy as they were at the beginning of the summer.  JoongAng Ilbo reports:

North Korea and the United States will likely meet in Malaysia next month to discuss the long-stalled project of excavating and repatriating remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War, a Seoul official told the JoongAng Ilbo yesterday.

The news, following a second round of inter-Korean talks in Beijing Wednesday and other Pyongyang-Washington exchanges planned for later this year, suggests the road to resuming six-nation talks on the North’s denuclearization is getting smoother.

The first reunion of Korean families divided between the United States and North Korea is expected soon.

The reunion of 10 families was agreed upon last month and is supposed to lead to more reunions.

A North Korean orchestra is also reportedly planning to visit the United States for a performance in November in response to the New York Philharmonic’s performance in Pyongyang in 2008.

Diplomatic observers in Seoul said that although cultural and humanitarian exchanges are technically separate from politics, they signal a thaw between the United States and North Korea and the two countries are getting closer to a breakthrough in restarting the six-party talks.

A high-ranking Seoul official said yesterday the United States and the North are discussing another round of denuclearization talks sometime next month in a third country. The nuclear envoys of the two nations met in New York in July.

Leaders from South Korea's seven largest religious groups including Roman Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists, pose for a photo after arriving in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sept. 21. During their four-day stay in the North, the leaders plan to meet with their North Korean counterparts in such places as Pyongyang and Mount Paekdu on the border with China. (KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Il Visits NE China on Homeward Trip

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo (R) shakes hands with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) arrived in northeastern China on 25 August (Thursday) and visited Heilongjiang Province on 26 August (Friday), during his return trip from Russia.  On Thursday KJI visited Hulun Buir (Hailar) in autonomous Inner Mongolia.    He was greeted at the railway station by Wang Jiarui and various local officials.  He took in the city’s skyline, then attended a banquet and art performance, according to KCNA:

Commanding a bird’s-eye view of the night scenery, he got familiar with the history and culture of the region and the achievements made by its people in construction.

The Inner Mongolian Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPC gave a grand banquet at the Tianjiao State Guest House in honor of Kim Jong Il visiting the region.

He was present on invitation.

Speeches were made.

Hu Chunhua said that today we welcomed Kim Jong Il to this vast steppe where President Kim Il Sung was accorded warm welcome several times long ago, thereby seeing the desire of the party, the government and the people of the autonomous region come true at last.

Hu Chunhua noted that the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship will remain ever-green like the vast steppe along with history, expressing firm belief that the friendly Korean people would make fresh success in the efforts to improve the standard of people’s living and build a prosperous and powerful nation.

A specially prepared art performance was given in honor of Kim Jong Il.

Artistes of the autonomous region including Hulun Buir National Song and Dance Troupe put on the stage such colorful numbers strong in national flavor as national song and dance “Song of Wedding”, national instrumental solo “Vast Steppe”, dance “Dance of Bowl”, chorus “Calling You” and Korean song “Arirang”.

The performers clearly reflected the boundless respect and reverence of the government and the people of the region for Kim Jong Il visiting China again for the development of the Sino-DPRK friendship.

Kim Jong Il conveyed a floral basket to the performers in congratulation of their successful performance and had a photo taken with them.

He was presented with a gift by Hu Chunhua on behalf of the party committee of the autonomous region.

He expressed thanks for the warm reception and cordial hospitality accorded him by the party, government and people of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. He hoped the people of the region would achieve a fresh victory in their struggle for the prosperity and development of the country under the leadership of the CPC.

Kim Jong Il departed for the next destination that day amid the warm send-off from the leading officials of the region.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo (R) shakes hands with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

A North Korean special train carrying Kim Jong-il arrives at China's Manzhouli Station, near the Russian border, on Aug. 25. (Yonhap)

Upon entry into China, KJI’s travel party changed with the addition of two officials: DPRK Ambassador to the PRC Ji Jae Ryong (Chi Chae Ryo’ng) and Ri Ki Pom, diplomatic counsel in Shenyang.  KJI then moved along into Heilongjiang Province where he visited Qiqihar and Daqing.  In Qiqihar he visited a machine tool factory and dairy farm, and in Daqing he visited an apartment building construction site.  He also met with Dai Bingguo.  Xinhua reports on his visit to Heilongjiang Province:

In a meeting with Kim, Dai, entrusted by Hu Jintao, Chinese president and general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), conveyed sincere greetings from Hu to Kim and welcomed Kim on behalf of the CPC, the Chinese government and people.

Kim, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, thanked China’s warm hospitality and conveyed his sincere greetings to Hu.

Kim made an unofficial visit to China in May. Dai said that after an interval of three months, Kim visited China again. It fully demonstrated the high attention attached by Kim, the WPK, the DPRK government and people to the consolidation and growth of China-DPRK ties.

During his previous visit, Hu and Kim had an in-depth exchange of views of bilateral ties and issues of mutual interests. “Along with DPRK comrades, we are willing to earnestly implement important consensus reached by the top leaders of our two countries and promote the continuous growth of our ties,” Dai said.

Kim said China and DPRK are close neighbors and should have frequent contacts. “Every time I visited China, I can feel the friendly affections from the Chinese people to the Korean people,” he said.

He spoke highly of the development momentum of current China-DPRK ties. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation should be enhanced between different departments and localities of the two countries in various areas, he said.

During his stay in Heilongjiang, Kim visited the cities of Qiqihar and Daqing. In Qiqihar, Kim toured Qier Machine Tool Group Co., a large state-owned enterprise, and Mengniu Dairy, a leading Chinese dairy producer. In Daqing, he toured an urban planning exhibition hall and a residential district.

“I’ve seen new changes every time I came here,” he said. He wished that China would smoothly realize the goals set in its 12th Five-year Plan under the leadership of the CPC.

Kim came on Thursday to China’s Manzhouli, a border city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, after his Russian tour.

Qiqihar and Daqing, two cities in northeastern China Kim Jong Il visited on 26 August 2011 on his return trip to the DPRK (Photo: Google image)

Whilst meeting with Dai, KJI repeated his “no preconditions” declaration on the DPRK’s return to the Six Party Talks.  His meeting with Dai occurred one day after ROK representative to the Six Party Talks, Wi Sung-lac, visited Beijing for one day where he met with Wu Dawei.

Kim, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the DPRK National Defense Commission, made the remarks while meeting with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo during his visit to northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.

The DPRK adheres to the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and is ready to fully implement the Sept. 19 joint statement along with all sides for maintaining and promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks on the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula involved China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia.

The 9.19 Joint Statement was signed on Sept. 19, 2005, in which the DPRK promised to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs.

Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie (C front) and Chinese officers pose for a group photo with a Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s delegation headed by Jon Chang Bok (5th L front), chief of the General Logistics Bureau of the DPRK's Armed Forces Department, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Kim Jong Il is not the only DPRK official who traveled to China this week. Col. Gen.  Jon Chang Bok (Cho’n Chang-pok), chief of the KPA General Logistics Department met with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on 26 August.   Xinhua reports:

Liang said China and the DPRK enjoy a traditional friendship due to shared treasures inherited from the two countries’ former leaders. The two countries and the two militaries have continued to strengthen a friendly partnership over the years, promoting the development of both countries and militaries and safeguarding common interests.

“Under new historical phases, China is willing to enhance its communication and coordination with the DPRK to further promote military ties between the two sides, and make joint contributions in safeguarding regional stability as well as world peace, stability and prosperity. ” Liang said.

Jon Chang Bok said the mutual support and assistance between the two militaries has broadened the content of DPRK-China friendship. He said the DPRK will always work with China to promote ties between the two countries and the two militaries during turbulent international situations.

He also hopes to learn about military logistics construction from China.

Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie (R) meets with Jon Chang Bok, chief of the General Logistics Bureau of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Armed Forces Department, in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Jon Chang Bok’s visit to Beijing occurred as a report emerged in ROK media that the DPRK purchased several thousand trucks and jeeps.  Chosun Ilbo reports:

There were eight video clips of varying lengths ranging from two minutes to 16 minutes. The footage shows Chinese-produced military vehicles standing in the 10,000 sq.m parking lot of the Dandong customs office waiting to be cleared along with other civilian cars, and two-story trailers loaded with military vehicles waiting on the side road to enter the customs office. A local source in Dandong said, “Normally, all Chinese-made vehicles going into North Korea were civilian, but in July, a massive number of military cars went to North Korea.”

A senior source in North Korea said that these cars were gifts to military officers by North Korea’s heir apparent Kim Jong-un in celebration of “Victory Day,” or the day the armistice in the Korean War was signed on July 27. “North Korean military vehicles produced in the 1970s and the 80s are too old to carry out drills, and many soldiers were dissatisfied. In order to buy the loyalty of the military and show what he can do, Kim Jong-un replaced the old vehicles thanks to the assistance of China,” the source added.

Jeeps were given to officers to be used to conduct operations, and the trucks were given to soldiers.

Analysis of the footage suggests the trucks were 6-ton trucks made by FAW Car Limited Company. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visited the headquarters of this firm in Changchun, Jilin, during his visit to China in May. The military jeeps were manufactured by Beijing Automobile Works with engine capacity of 2,200 cc and 100 horsepower. BAW, which specializes in SUVs, trucks and military vehicles, is a subsidiary of Beijing Automotive Group, a partner of Hyundai Motor.

Dump trucks, large buses, sedans, oil trucks, agricultural machines and heavy machinery were also spotted in the video going into North Korea. In the windscreen, the name of the recipients is written. One is Korea Taesong Trading Company, a trading company under the Workers Party that manages Kim Jong-il’s slush funds. It was blacklisted by the U.S. as part of its economic sanctions against the North.

Meanwhile, the DPRK is moving quickly to formalize military and economic agreements resulting from KJI’s meeting with Dmitry Medvedev. On 25 August chief of the KPA General Staff met with Konstantin Sidenko, commander of Russia’s Eastern Military District.  KCNA reports:

Ri Yong Ho, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army, Thursday met and had a talk with the delegation of the Eastern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation led by Commander of the District Konstantin Sidenko.

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (R) shakes hands with Russian Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin (L) after a meeting Friday, 26 August in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

On 26 August, DPRK Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam (Ri Ryo’ng-nam) signed an agreement on economic cooperation and technical exchanges:

A protocol of the 5th Meeting of the DPRK-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology was signed at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Friday.

Present there were Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade and chairman of the DPRK side to the Committee, and officials concerned and the members of the Russian governmental economic delegation led by Minister of Regional Development Viktor Basargin, chairman of the Russian side to the Committee, and Arkady Lavrov, charge d’affaires a.i. of the Russian embassy here.

Ri Ryong Nam and Viktor Basargin inked the protocol.

DPRK Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam shakes hands with Russian Ministerr of Regional Development Viktor Basargin on 26 August 2011 at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Il Makes His Return (Revised)

A view of Manzhouli Railway Station at the Russia-China border (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) is returning to the DPRK.  The locomotive of his personal  train was spotted in northeastern China at the Russia-China border in Manzhouli, according to Yonhap.  KCNA reported that KJI “will pay a visit to the Northeast area of the People’s Republic of China on August 25 on his way home.”

Back in the DPRK, KCNA reported on Kim Jong Il’s (Kim Cho’ng-il) meeting and the other events that he attended with Russian President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev.  While mentioning KJI’s pronouncement on the country’s return to the Six Party Talks, KCNA did not mention anything about his declaration to suspend nuclear weapons tests or production.

Kim Jong Il departs the summit talks with Dmitry Medvedev, seen at the right is his current wife Kim Ok (Photo: RIA Novosti)

First, KCNA reported about KJI’s initial interaction with Medvedev, at the Sosnovy Bor hotel where the Russian President was staying during his visit to the area:

Kim Jong Il exchanged warm greetings with Medvedev and had a talk with him.

The president warmly welcomed leader Kim Jong Il visiting Russia by sparing precious time despite his tight schedule leading the building of a prosperous and powerful country in the DPRK on behalf of the Russian government and the people. He said that the visit would mark a particularly important occasion in further developing the Russia-DPRK friendly relations as required by the new century.

The third visit to Russia paid by Kim Jong Il in the new century clearly proves what importance he is attaching to the Russia-DPRK friendship, he noted, paying high tribute to Kim Jong Il who has made an immortal contribution to the development of the Russia-DPRK friendship.

Kim Jong Il expressed his pleasure of meeting with Medvedev and thanked him for coming all the way to Ulan-Ude to kindly meet with him. He gave his impressions of his visit to the Far East and Siberian regions under the great concern of the Russian government and people and amid their cordial hospitality.

Kim Jong Il and Dmitry Medvedev sit for a media availability on 24 August 2011in Ulan Ude (Photo: Kremlin)

KJI and Medvedev then made their way to the military base for their meeting.  Only five (5) of the dozen or so reported members of KJI’s travel party were reported as attending.  Jang Song Taek (Chang So’ng-t’aek) was not reported to have attended the interaction.  Interestingly in this and other KCNA reporting on the trip, VMar Kim Yong Chun (Kim Yo’ng-ch’un) was identified as a member of the Political Bureau and minister of the People’s Armed Forces, but not Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission (NDC).

Kim Jong Il thanked the Russian president and other central leading officials and the governments and people of different regions for kindly receiving him wherever he went and according him cordial hospitality and extended his regards to the Russian people.

He said he witnessed the successes achieved by the Russian government and people in the work to modernize the economy, bolster the defense capability and achieve social stability under the leadership of Medvedev and got better knowledge of the history and culture of Russia while touring several cities and units of the vast Far East and Siberian regions. He hoped the Russian people would enjoy prosperity in the future, too.

At the talks the top leaders of the two countries informed each other of the situation in their countries and appreciated with satisfaction the favorably developing bilateral relations. They exchanged their views on developing the bilateral relations and reached a consensus of views on all the issues discussed.

The two top leaders were unanimous in saying that boosting the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations with a long historical tradition is not only in line with the desire of the two peoples and their fundamental interests but is of important significance in developing Northeast Asia and defending world peace and security.

The Russian president reiterated that the Russian side would join the DPRK side in boosting the Russia-DPRK good-neighborly, friendly and cooperative relations and thus making a positive contribution to bringing greater well-being to the two peoples.

Kim Jong Il reiterated the determination of the government and people of the DPRK to make every possible effort to further develop the traditional bilateral friendly and cooperative relations in the future, too.

At the talks the top leaders underlined the need for the two countries to boost the friendship, equality and mutually beneficial cooperative relations in the spirit of the DPRK-Russia Joint Declaration inked in Pyongyang in 2000, the 2001 DPRK-Russia Moscow Declaration and the Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighborliness and Cooperation between the DPRK and Russia.

They expressed firm belief that the cause of building a prosperous and powerful nation in the DPRK and that of building a powerful state in Russia would surely be accomplished thanks to the two peoples’ vigorous struggle for social progress and development. They expressed mutual support and solidarity with the cause.

The two top leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on regional and international issues at the talks.

The Russians arranged a performance for KJI:

The performance was given by well-known national art troupes, people’s and merited artistes and international concourse winners of Russia.

Their repertoire included chorus “Song of General Kim Jong Il,” an immortal revolutionary hymn, chorus and dance “Katyusa,” song and dance suite “Land of friendship,” chorus “Russia and Korea, eternal friends.”

The performers expressed boundless reverence and thanks of the Russian people for Kim Jong Il for making an undying contribution to the development of traditional DPRK-Russia friendship.

Pleasant and optimistic dances and songs showcased part of a long history and culture of the Russian people and culture of the Buryat.

The performance was acclaimed by the audience for its high artistic value.

Kim Jong Il conveyed a floral basket to the artistes for their successful performance.

Medvedev also hosted “a grand banquet” for the DPRK officials:

Kim Jong Il was present at the banquet on invitation.

Also present there on invitation were Kim Yong Chun, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Kang Sok Ju, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-premier of the Cabinet, Jang Song Thaek, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice-chairman of the NDC, Kim Yang Gon, Pak To Chun and Thae Jong Su, alternate members of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the WPK Central Committee, Ju Kyu Chang, alternate member of the Political Bureau and department director of the WPK Central Committee, Pak Pong Ju, first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, O Su Yong, chief secretary of the North Hamgyong Provincial Committee of the WPK, Kim Kye Gwan, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Kim Yong Jae, DPRK ambassador to Russia, Sim Kuk Ryong, consul general of the DPRK Consulate General in Nakhodka of Russia, and other suite members.

Present there together with Medvedev were Alexandr Avramov, assistant to the president for regional policy, Sergei Prikhodiko, assistant to the president for external policy, Viktor Ishayev, presidential envoy to the Far East Region of the Russian Federation, Viktor Tolokonski, presidential envoy to the Siberian Region of the Russian Federation, Anatoly Serzhukov, minister of Defense, Igor Levitin, minister of Transport, Viktor Basargin, minister of Regional Development who is chairman of the Russian side to the Governmental Committee between Russia-DPRK for the Cooperation of Trade and Economy, Science and Technology, Valery Sukhinin, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, Aleksei Borodavkin, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Byacheslav Nagovitsin, president of the Republic of Buryatia, Matbei Gershevich, chairman of the People’s Khural, Gennadi Aidayev, mayor of Ulan-Ude, Anatoly Sidorov, first vice commander of the Eastern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Tsilko, commander of the 36th Combined Forces of the Eastern Military District, and other central and local leading officials and commanding officers of the armed forces.

Dmitri Anatoliyevich Medvedev made a speech at the banquet.

Kim Jong Il spoke next.

The banquet proceeded in an amicable atmosphere overflowing with friendship.

According to KCNA Medvedev, in part, said:

The good neighborly relations between our two countries have a solid foundation. This is not merely because of geographical proximity and long-standing bilateral relations.

The cooperation between Russia and the DPRK has great potential.

To realize cooperation between the two countries will bring a lot of benefits including not a few economic fruits to our two peoples.

Today I and Your Excellency Kim Jong Il agreed to further political dialogue and comprehensively develop working cooperation.

There is great possibility of cooperation for us in the educational and cultural fields, too.

The Russian center has already operated in Pyongyang for the last three years and students of the DPRK are studying and having training programs at universities of Russia.

Art groups of Russia made ceaseless performance tours of the DPRK and it has become a tradition for them to participate in the April Spring Friendship Art Festival.

The contacts between the regions of the two countries have become more brisk recently.

Documents on establishing sister relations between various cities of Russia and the DPRK are in the making.

Cooperation among Russia, the DPRK and the Republic of Korea in carrying out the grand plans in the fields of infrastructure and power has a great prospect.

I am convinced that to realize this cooperation would be beneficial to all our three countries and have a positive impact on providing favorable environment for dialogue and confidence-building between the DPRK and the ROK.

It is our common task to put an end to the confrontation between the north and the south that has lasted for more than half a century, I think.

We will in the future, too, contribute to seeking political and economic solutions to turn the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia into regions in which durable peace and security are settled.

Respected friends,

Hoping you will have good impressions during your stay in Russia, let me propose to toast to the good health of respected Your Excellency Kim Jong Il, chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, and to the good health of all those present here and to the well-being and prosperity of the peoples of the DPRK and Russia.

According to KCNA, Kim Jong Il’s after-dinner speech said, in part:

It gives me great pleasure to revisit Siberia and the Far East Region of Russia, a friendly neighbor, after the lapse of a decade and meet with you.

Allow me to express, first of all, my heartfelt thanks to you for traveling thousands of kilometers to come to Ulan-Ude from Moscow, the capital city, warmly greeting us and providing us with such meaningful place today.

It gives us particular pleasure to visit your country for the third time in the new century and see for ourselves the achievements made by your people in building powerful and modern Russia.

The Russian government and people are registering many successes in the work to bolster the defence capability of the country and achieve the modernization of economy and social and political stability and working hard to establish a fair international order against high-handed and arbitrary practices under your leadership.

It is our sincere hope that the efforts of the friendly Russian government and people to defend world peace and security and build rich and powerful Russia will bear good fruits.

The peoples of our two countries have given steady continuity to the history and tradition of friendship along with the placid flow of the River Tuman.

We are glad to see that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have favorably developed in various fields recently.

To steadily develop in depth the history and tradition of the DPRK-Russia friendship entirely conforms with the interests of the two peoples and is of weighty significance in defending the peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

We are convinced that the summit meeting today will undoubtedly mark an important landmark in boosting the DPRK-Russia relations in line with the aspiration and desire of the two peoples and turning Northeast Asia into the region for peace and cooperation.

We will in the future, too, make every effort to boost the traditional DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations.

In closing, I, availing myself of this opportunity overflowing with the friendship, would like to propose a toast to the strengthening and development of the traditional friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, to the good health of Respected Your Excellency President Dmitri Anatoliyevich Medvedev and to the good health of the dear friends of Russia and all those present here.

Medvedev later saw KJI depart from Ulan Ude.  In a separate piece, KCNA reported that “the Korean people are now making great achievements in their work to delight leader Kim Jong Il when he returns home from his unofficial visit to Siberian and Far East regions of the Russian Federation.”

The president hoped that he would meet with leader Kim Jong Il again and sincerely wished him greater success in his important work for building a prosperous and powerful country.

Kim Jong Il once again extended thanks to the president, the government and the people of Russia for having accorded him cordial hospitality with all sincerity during his visit and wished them new success in the efforts for the economic development of the country and the well-being of the people.

Kim Jong Il and Dmitri Anatoliyevich Medvedev shook hands with each other before bidding farewell.

The revisit paid by Kim Jong Il to Russia for steadily strengthening and developing the DPRK-Russia friendship proved successful thanks to the particular concern and hospitality of the Russian president including leading officials of the Russian government and various regions and their people.

He expressed his satisfaction over the results of the visit and sincere thanks to the Russian people for their warmest hospitality.

Kim Jong Il’s historical visit to Russia will go a long way towards boosting the traditional DPRK-Russia friendship and record another brilliant chapter in its history.

One projected rail route for Kim Jong Il's return to the DPRK (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Il Meets with Medvedev

Kim Jong Il steps out of his car prior to meeting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 24 August 2011 outside of Ulan Ude in Siberia (Photo: RIA Novosti)

Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) met with Russian Federation President Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev on Wednesday (24 August) at a military compound outside of Ulan Ude in Siberia.  During the meeting, KJI said that he would consider suspending any additional nuclear weapons development, testing and production as part of an oft-repeated pledge for the DPRK to return to the Six Party Talks.  RT reports:

North Korea is ready to return to the Six-Party negotiation table unconditionally and to do so, Kim Jong-il promised his country will impose moratorium on nuclear testing and nuclear weapons production.

Presidential Press Secretary Natalia Timakova announced these results of the meeting on Wednesday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his North Korean counterpart have met in the secluded military compound Sosnovy Bor (Pine Wood) on the outskirts of the capital of Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude. The talks lasted for two hours and ten minutes.The leaders shook hands for protocol photos in the presence of press, then proceeded to negotiate behind closed doors. Few results were announced once the negotiations were over, including little information about the topics of discussion.

Surely, tense topics have been discussed during the meeting. Most likely the talks were focused on Six-Party Talks: North Korea withdrew from the Six-Party Talks (which include North and South Koreas, Russia, China, US and Japan) and continued with its nuclear experiments, defiant in its continuation of its nuclear program, predictably causing outrage not only within the Six Parties, but the whole of the international community.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) meets with Kim Jong Il, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), near Russia's eastern Siberian city of Ulan Ude, Aug. 24, 2011. (Xinhua/RIA NOVOSTI)

KJI and Medvedev also discussed the formation of a three-country commission to oversee the development and construction of a gas pipeline running from Russia through the DPRK to ROK.  ITAR-TASS reports:

Medvedev said, “We achieved certain results on gas cooperation. In particular, a decision has been taken to create a special commission for gas transit to the Republic of Korea via the territory of the DPRK.”

“The DPRK seeks to realise this project,” the Russian president stressed. At the same time, he pointed out that the gas pipeline of 1,100 km long was planning to be built.

“This year it will be possible to transport up to 10 billion cubic metres of gas by this pipeline. If there is demand, we are ready to increase our supplies,” Medvedev said.

“We instructed our agencies to create a special commission in order to determine concrete parameters of gas cooperation via the territory of the DPRK and involve South Korea in this project due to the fact that main consumers are deployed on its territory,” the Russian president said.

He noted, “The DPRK seeks to realise such tripartite project with the participation of Russia and South Korea. Now we are starting a technical work.” “Some time ago the Gazprom delegation led by the deputy head of the board visited the DPRK. Yesterday I instructed [the company’s head Alexei] Miller to deal with this problem. We’ll hope that there will be a good project,” Medvedev said.

A delegation from Russia’s Gazprom gas giant visited North Korea last week, for the latest in a sudden flurry of mysterious contacts between Moscow and the isolated state, the company said.

The Gazprom team was headed by deputy managing chairman Alexander Ananenkov, who met with North Korea’s oil minister to discuss “outstanding issues of cooperation in the energy sphere,” the Russian company said.

The construction of a gas pipeline between Russia and South Korea via the DPRK will guarantee the restoration and strengthening of trust between Seoul and Pyongyang, said Georgy Toloraya, director of research programmes at the Centre for Modern Korean Studies, Institute of World Economy and International Relations.

Commenting on a visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, Toloraya said, “The upcoming talks between the Russian and North Korean leaders are important. The six-party consultations may resume. North Koreans said they were ready to resume negotiations and discus the nuclear programme. It will be more difficult to ignore a signal that Kim Jong-il will give to the international community with the aid of Dmitry Medvedev.”

“If Russia supports the initiative [on resuming the six-party talks] and guarantees that North Koreans seek to discuss this problem, it will be more difficult for Seoul and Washington to scuttle the dialogue,” the Russian expert said.

Economic projects, such as the construction of a gas pipeline between Russia and South Korea via the DPRK, the linking up of the Trans-Korean railway with the Trans-Siberian mainline and the construction of a power transmission line from the Far East to the Republic of Korea, can be very significant in relations between the two countries. “This issue is being actively finalised. Gazprom’ s project has been approved by North Korea. Pyongyang is also ready to take part in the project jointly with South Koreans despite difficult relations. Now Gazprom intends to inform Seoul about this. South Koreans agree in word although they voice concerns over North Korea’s possible dependence, including illegal gas extraction and blackmail,” he said.

At the same time, he said, “The pipeline will guarantee the restoration and strengthening of trust between the North and the South. The economic development of North Korea will become one more argument for stopping the nuclear programme.”

Kim Jong Il meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on 24 August 2011 outside of Ulan Ude in Siberia (Photo: Kremlin)

Kim Jong Il and Dmitry Medvedev sit for a media availability on 24 August 2011 (Photo: Kremlin)

The meeting’s agenda also included a bit of old business, including the DPRK’s formal recognition of the Russian Federation succeeding the Soviet Union and the DPRK’s repayment of foreign debts to the former USSR.  RIA Novosti reports:

Medvedev and Kim met in Ulan-Ude, in East Siberia’s Buryatia Region earlier in the day.

“The leaders agreed on an approach toward solving this issue,” the source said.

Renewed talks on the issue had been going on for around six weeks, the source added.

“The Russian delegation thinks that the fact that these talks have been renewed is a significant breakthrough toward solving this issue.”

The talks involve North Korea’s $11 billion debt to Russia from the Soviet era, Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said on Wednesday.

He also said that North Korea should first recognize Russia as a successor state of the Soviet Union. Then the two states need to recalculate the sum of the loan, which was issued in Soviet rubles at the exchange rate of 0.6 rubles per $1.

Only then the two countries may launch negotiations “on how to repay the resulting sum.”

Moscow sees the loan as one of the factors that hinder trade and economic cooperation between the two states.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev talks with Kim Jong Il during a photo op on 24 August (Photo: Xinhua)

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) and Kim Jong Il (R) on 24 August 2011 in Ulan Ude in Siberia (Photo: Xinhua)