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NK NEWS BRIEF | February 18, 2012
POSTED February 18, 2012
NK INTERNAL
- KJU has reportedly ordered a halt to the collection of funds and resources from the citizenry for monuments idolizing KJI. Contributions already collected are to be returned.
- Construction of the “Eternal Tower” to commemorate KJI will reportedly necessitate the destruction of more than 200 homes.
- Research released by the National Endowment for Democracy has reported the existence of large markets able to serve nearly 100,000 customers per day.
- KCNA has reported new amendments to NK laws on foreign investment.
- NK energy shortages have reportedly led to decreased rail activity, prompting some individuals to ride on the tops of trains.
- Extreme cold and frozen waters are expected to hinder NK fishing and shipping industries this winter.
- KJI’s birthday was marked this week with various celebrations (video), including a military parade, the unveiling of a large bronze statue (the first such depicting KJI), an ice sculpture festival, the 16th Kimjongilia festival, and the production of commemorative stamps and coins. The occasion was also marked by gifts to Party cadres and distributions to the citizenry, varying in type and amount by region.
- KJI has been elevated to the rank of “Grand Marshal,” to share NK’s highest military rank with KIS.
- NK has revealed a mountainside rock carving commemorating KJI. Criticized by Daily NK.
- A new badge of KJI has been released.
- The annual Arirang Festival will reportedly be held in the month of April for the first time in five years, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of KIS. The event usually opens in August.
- KJU has promoted 23 military officials to higher ranks. Chosun Ilbo on the promotions of Kim Yong-chol and Kim Jong-gak.
- The first of recently revealed KJI medals, dubbed along with the KIS medal to be the “highest honor in the country,” have been awarded to 132 NK citizens, including many core Party, state, and military figures.
- NK authorities have reportedly added “KJI remembrance meetings,” to annual “loyalty gatherings” meant to support the regime.
- NK officials gathered Feb. 15 for a national meeting to commemorate KJI, and reportedly held a rally earlier in the week to pledge allegiance to KJU.
- Orascom denied reports of cell phones being banned and users being branded as “war criminals.”
- A helicopter crash reportedly killed NK’s commerce minister, the commercial director of North Pyongan Province, and three other cabinet officials.
FOOD AID & FOOD SECURITY
- U.S. Commerce Dept figures show that U.S. relief to NK increased from 1.9m USD in 2010 to 9.4m USD in 2011.
- GIEWS brief: There was an estimated increase in NK cereal harvests in 2011 which are expected to lead to a decrease in imports in 2012. 3 million NKoreans are currently estimated to be vulnerable to food shortages.
REFUGEES
- The Chinese authorities’ detainment of NK defectors at various locations and movement towards their likely repatriation has garnered international attention, including statements by Amnesty International and advocate Robert Park. Protests have been held in SK and SK lawmakers including Park Geun-hye have taken action including by sending letters to the UN, USG and China to prompt intervention. The detention was reportedly the result of coordination between the NK NSA and the Chinese MPS, which has allegedly stepped up efforts to capture NK defectors since January. SK diplomats are reportedly to meet with their Chinese counterparts to discuss this and other issues later this month.
- Piece on NK refugee Lee Hyeonseo, who recently participated in the CSIS’ Pacific Forum.
- A NK defector has been charged with entering SK with intent to work on behalf of the NK Govt.
- Daily NK on ways to reform refugee job-aid programs.
HUMAN RIGHTS
- The NK NSA is reportedly leading installations of additional surveillance cameras on the NK/China border meant to further clamp down on smuggling and defection.
- The Propaganda Department and NK NSA have reportedly established a new unit within NK meant to crackdown on “illegal” media.
- President of the NED, Carl Gershman, has received the Order of Diplomatic Service Medal from the SK govt for his NKHR work. Daily NK on Gershman.
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS & SECURITY
- A team led by Glyn Davies is to meet with a NK delegation in China on Feb. 23 to discuss nuclear weapons issues. A U.S. source reportedly called NK “steps toward denuclearization” a “prerequisite for the resumption of the six-party talks,” ahead of the talks.
- U.S. company Korea Pyongyang Trading USA, previously an importer of NK alcohol, is working with NK on plans to attract visitors to Mount Geumgang resort.
- Unification Ministry: SK is to “ease sanctions on North Korea imposed May 24 last year to support the operations of plants operating (in Kaesong), including allowing the entry of necessary facilities and construction of warehouses.” The move comes after a bipartisan group of SK lawmakers who visited Kaesong last week called for changes including new building permissions, provisions of machinery, a solution to worker shortfalls, more leisure facilities for workers, and products from the complex to be recognized as SKorean under FTAs.
- A former SK chief of staff reportedly met with NK diplomats in China earlier this month and spoke about possibility of future discussions with NK in exchange for flexibility on Kaesong and Mount Geumgang.
- U.S. ambassador to SK in his first public statements in office: “If [NK] hope[s] to improve relations with [the U.S.], if they want to make progress in the six-party talks, they have to be more sincere with the South Koreans.”
- The SK defense ministry is to restructure its nuclear non-proliferation and information protection departments to bolster defense policy for NK WMD and cyber attacks.
- SKorean and Russian SPT officials have agreed on the “need for an early resumption” of the talks.
- SK’s floundering NK human rights bill is set for automatic termination at the end of the National Assembly term.
- Ahn Chan Il, the first NK defector to earn a PhD, has joined the supreme council of the SK K-Party, making him the first defector to enter into SK politics. His stated goal is to “make the [SK] North Korea Human Rights Act a real issue in the National Assembly.” “As a member of the supreme council of the K-Party, my work is to establish unification policy and strategy towards North Korea. I want to join hands with various defector organizations to turn defectors into ‘unification talent’.”
- A SK civic group which met with NK counterparts last week against SK govt wishes has reportedly proposed holding a meeting later this year at NK’s Geumgang resort.
- NK reportedly rejected a SK offer to discuss joint pest control efforts at ancient NK tombs.
- The SK Red Cross has proposed the resumption of SK/NK family reunion talks.
- China has reportedly secured rights to develop and use docks, a railway, and an airfield at Rason SEZ, in a contract valued at 3b USD.
- The number of NKoreans legally visiting China reportedly increased 30% from 2010-2011, setting a new annual high. A vast majority of the 152,300 visits were for work/business related reasons. Discussed by NK Econ Watch.
- Former senior advisor to the State Department, Philip W. Yun on USG approach to NK: “This failure to be more proactive is likely to end in a different kind of bad news — another nuclear test.”
ANALYSIS & OPINION
- Korea Realtime on the rumor of KJU’s death and the “unknowable-ness” of NK.
- 38North on developing NK through agriculture.
- DailyNK on the likely posthumous glorification of KJI through landmark renaming.
- NK Leadership Watch on KJU military unit visits and newly released media glorifying KJI.
- Noland on economic reform in NK.
- Korea JoongAng Daily on NK consumerism.
- Haggard on skepticism about recent reports of Chinese aid to NK.
- Haggard on SK political party platforms regarding NK.
- WP on NK markets and foreign currency usage and defectors sending money back to NK.
- Sino-NK on NK women in China and development plans for Hwanggumpyong and Wihwa Island SEZs.
- Chosun Exchange on NK’s CNC.
- America Abroad: Interviews with NK defectors, and reports on the history and future of US/NK relations.
- The Korea Herald on NK/Iran relations.
- Sino-NK on NK elites’ commercial activities with China.
- Global Post on SKorean NK activists.
- Daily NK on Koryolink cell phone contracts.
- Aljazeera report on the DMZ as home to “ecological treasury.”
MISC.
- An arrest warrant has been issued for a SKorean pro-NK organization leader who attempted to set up a memorial for KJI in Seoul.
- A recent survey suggests that SK company perceptions of investment in NK are mixed.
- Photos of NK by Damir Sagolj.
- Rocket News on NK subway system, fast food restaurant, and Air Koryo in-flight meal.
- Progressive civic groups have formed a committee calling for the release of SKorean NK propaganda retweeter.
- Previously suspended self-driven tours from China to NK are reportedly to be restarted this May.
- A Russian magazine has speculated that Kim Jong Nam is having financial problems, recently being kicked out of a Macau hotel for not being able to pay his bill.
- The largest NK overseas restaurant to date has opened in Dandong, China and is reportedly staffed by more than 200 NK workers.
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