Website

The DPRK website has been reorganised under the following headings:

· DPRK: Other foreign relations (Japan, Russia, China, etc.)

· Documentation on DPRK’s foreign relations

· Pyongyang Report (from first issue onwards)

There are no extraneous graphics, so the pages download fast. The material is sourced principally, but not exclusively, from The Korea Times and Korea Herald (ROK), Korea Central New Agency and Peoples Korea (DPRK) with occasional articles from US, Hong Kong, China, Japan, etc. The site is currently being updated daily.

The URL has been simplified to

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~caplabtb/dprk/

Inter-Korean Relations

Although the family reunions held on 15^th August – Liberation Day, the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan – have captured the most attention, the past couple of months have been full of important developments, including, Red Cross talks, inter-ministerial talks, meeting of defence chiefs, ground breaking for the railway reconnection. Emissaries have gone back and forth and plans are being made for Kim Jong Il’s visit to Seoul in the (northern) spring in response to Kim Dae-jung’s visit to Pyongyang in June.

Family Reunions

N.K. actor meets Southern sisters, calls for film industry exchanges

It was in 1983 that announcer Lee Ji-yon broadcast a live KBS television special on locating separated family members in South Korea.

Seventeen years later, the 52-year-old Lee, now a freelance broadcaster, was among the hundreds of lucky South Koreans who were allowed to meet with their long-lost Northern relatives.

Along with her three sisters, she met her eldest brother, Lee Rae-sung, 68, a renowned North Korean movie actor and director, in a private reunion in his hotel room at Seoul's Sheraton Walker Hill Hotel yesterday. ……

Her Northern brother said he voluntarily joined the North Korean forces when he was 19 years old to help repel the foreign forces that divided Korea in half.

"In the North, I majored in drama and film and hoped to be an actor. But I decided to teach in college for one and a half years," he said. "After leaving college, I acted on stage for two years. Later I played the role of a prisoner in a battle with the Japanese and Chairman Kim Jong Il liked my performance very much."

"I said that I would return home in a month after beating back the foreign troops, and now, after 50 years, I have come back," he said.

Lee expressed a desire to launch cultural exchanges between the two Koreas, especially in the film industry.

"We have to part again tomorrow, but our parting this time will be different than it was 50 years ago," he said. "Though we part tomorrow, we will be able to meet again in the next few years."….

He said that the northern film industry planned to produce a movie on "Minbi," or Queen Min, years ago, but canceled the project because they thought it would be much more realistic to shoot it at Kyongbok Palace in Seoul, where the queen lived.

"I hope that this dream will come true," said Lee Ji-yon….

"I will return, and my only regret this time is that I am not able to pay tribute to our mother (buried in Kunsan, North Cholla Province)," Lee said.

Source: Korea Herald, 18 August 2000

Meetings of separated families and relatives continue in Pyongyang

The members of the visiting group of separated families and relatives of the south side had more family-to-family meetings with their kinsmen at Pyongyang Koryo Hotel on August 17.

They shared kinship in a family atmosphere.

The emotion-charged meetings proved that Koreans are a homogeneous nation who cannot live separated.

The visiting group led by president Jang Chung Sik of the South Korean Red Cross appreciated national opera "The Tale of Chun Hyang".

The Pyongyang City People's Committee hosted a reception for the visiting group at Okryu Restaurant this evening.

Chairman of the committee Ryang Man Gil in his speech said that when the north and the south follow the road indicated by the north-south joint declaration, the cause of national reunification, the cherished desire of the nation, is bound to be achieved in the near future. This is the fixed faith of all the fellow countrymen which has been confirmed through the current exchange of the visiting groups arranged thanks to the historic north-south joint declaration, he added.

Expressing his joy over the successful conclusion of the visiting group's program, Jang Chung Sik called for pooling all sincerity and efforts so that the current visit may lead to a meeting of our 70 million fellow countrymen and become a great milestone for national reconciliation and reunification.

Source: KCNA 17 August 2000

Kim Jong Il's Dialogue with South Korean Media Heads

Kim Jong Il met with 56 South Korean media heads and officials in Pyongyang on 12 August. Both the South and North have published summary transcripts of this fascinating and important meeting.

Some key extracts from the southern version follow.

Kim Jong Il: Both Koreas had problems in their attitudes towards unification, and past governments of both countries are responsible for the delayed unification as the past governments of the two Koreas have utilized the issue of unification for the purpose of maintaining their ruling system, but a drastic change in these attitudes has happened following the inter-Korea summit talks on June 15 which was achieved by President Kim Dae-jung's decision. …..

The North Korean government has been engaged in rocket engineering in a bid to promote science development. A rocket launch costs US$200 to US$300 million. I told Russian President Putin that we will stop developing rockets when the United States comes forward and launches our satellites. I don't know what the new U.S. administration would say on this issue, as Clinton is due to step down soon. North Korea has been moving ahead with launching the satellite and it costs US$900 million for about two to three satellite launches a year. It is vastly uneconomical for my country to launch twice a year. North Korea has been selling rockets to Surinam (sic) and Iran. It is a ridiculous to claim that North Korea will be able to beat the U.S. by developing intercontinental ballistic missiles and blasting them off to the U.S. but Washington has been picking on North Korea's research for satellite technology. Certainly it will be a headache for the U.S. because the country will hate to give money freely to us on one hand, and on the other, the U.S. must stem our scientists research on satellite technology…….

The charter of Worker's Party has been revised in the past but the platform has remained unchanged since it was taken in 1945. The platform contains several belligerent expressions as it was taken back in the 1940s when Korea was liberated. Among the top officials of the Worker's Party, there are several who have worked with President Kim Il-sung so I find its difficult to revise the platform. If the platform is changed, a lot of officials present here will have to quit their posts. Some may claim that if I initiate the revision of the platform, I am trying to purge my opponents. ……

Everyone wishes to be the one to go to Seoul to see their families. The number of separated families will be immense, were those hiding in the South to be added as well. There are a lot of people living in clandestine here as well, and since even I, the Defense Commission Chairman, has stated I'll be going to Seoul, now more people are making appearance saying they would like to go, too. …. If you go about the issue of separated families without proper preparation, especially when you consider that reunions have been stopped before, the possibility exists that things could end up tragic. We both have a lot [of past] to erase from the last fifty years. In 1950, the Korean War broke out and we have history to erase. We can't emphasize only humanity and love for the [Korean] nation. This year, two more reunions for the displaced families will be organized, one in September and the other in October. For next year, let's take an overall look to continue the project. I will try and let the separated families go as far as the actual homes of the families next year.

Is the idea that men are superior to women still prevalent in the South? SKM: Yes. A little bit. (laughter) Does the idea exist even in the North?

Kim: A lot. I think the fact that there is the word "sexual equality" states there is a predominance of men over women. The power of Confucianism is stronger on the peninsula than mainland China, where the idea was originated and imported from. .

The direct flight line issue is no problem at the government level but it is a problem for the military. As for the military problem, the direct flight line will open only if I say the word. Please send large delegations through the direct line. Both North and South are importing oil, so why should we beg and pay money to China while taking a long detour? The military is opposed to opening a direct line because they say that photos can be taken from the airplanes using special cameras. So I told them: "what are you talking about?" [The South] is already taking photographs of us using satellites, what problem would there be if they take photos from airplanes? From next time on, I will make it possible for people to travel on direct flights. …..

I don't spend my life sitting sadly in an office. I go into the arms of the people and sing and have a good time spending [my life] with them. I also argue with party officials. I get upset when I see them. These people are stuck in their ways and don't try to change. I spend most of my time with the people in the countryside. I swim and ride horses once or twice a week. …

If I didn't become a politician I would have become a movie fan or a critic or a producer …

I like KBS television very much because there are no commercials. I like NHK also because it doesn't have any advertisements, it deals well with international political news, sends out dignified programming, and is conservative. China's CCTV and Russian television is hard to tell whether they're government operated or not. There has to be broadcasting that is the voice of the state. Without advertisements. I respect NHK and the BBC.

You can't see [the stars in Seoul] because of the air pollution, and the air pollution is pollution from industry. It's because of economic development. You've done a lot of economic development over the last fifty years.

SKM: When will it be possible for North Korea to establish a diplomatic relationship with the US? Kim: If I say so, Pyongyang can establish a diplomatic ties at any time, if the US takes North Korea off its list of terrorism-supporting nations. However, the issue of establishing a diplomatic relationship with Japan is more complicated. There are many roadblocks in the way that must be removed. Japan is demanding an unreasonable explanation from North Korea (for the alleged kidnapping of Japanese by North Korean spies), however, if Japan wants to talk about such issues of the past, we must begin from the time of the Meiji Reform. Japan must compensate us for its wrong doings during its 36-year colonial rule of the Korean peninsula. I will never establish diplomatic relations with Tokyo swallowing my pride. The smaller a nation, the stronger a nation must be to keep its pride. …

If we combine the technology and economic power of the South with the strong spirit of the North, the combined Koreas will surely become a strong nation. We must overtake Japan and must receive compensation for the colonial rule of the past. …

We are the major victims of the power tug-of-war among the Great Powers. Now is time to put old tactics of pursuing self-interest. Rather, it is time for the South Korean media to take the lead in a great achievement of reunification for the sake of all the Koreans.

Source: Chosun Ilbo 15 August 2000

NK's Opening Won't Imperil Kim Jong Il's Power, President Kim tells American Experts on Korea_

President Kim Dae-jung said yesterday that North Korea's economic opening would not jeopardize Kim Jong Il's power….

``There is a saying that many leaders of former Communist bloc countries in eastern Europe were toppled because of the opening of their economies,'' he said. ``But I do not think the allegation is applicable to North Korea and the other Asian countries, including China and Vietnam.'' ….

``China and Vietnam have opened up their economies but their leaderships were not challenged,'' he added.

Source: Korea Times 8 September 2000

Food supply situation

Shortage of food continues in DPRK

Ministry of Agriculture statement regarding ‘serious damage in the agricultural sector caused by this year's drought, heat and typhoon.’:

The precipitation in the whole areas during the sowing period of rice and maize, the main crops, dropped 40-50 percent as compared with the annual average precipitation and, worse still, it rained little in some areas for 40-50 days….

Owing to the long spell of drought water storage at reservoirs reached 3-18 percent of the plan and paddy and non-paddy fields of north and south Hwanghae provinces, north and south Phyongan, Kangwon and south Hamgyong provinces, major granaries, could hardly be watered.

As a result, rice transplanting across the country was delayed more than one month and rice was not transplanted in some areas.

Worse still, as serious drought and abnormal high temperature continued till mid-august, paddy fields dried up, rice roots rotted and maize withered to die. as a result harvest is little expected in many paddy and non-paddy fields.

The amount of grain yield reduction caused by serious drought and heat is more than one million tons, about 360,000 tons of rice and 660,000 tons of maize.

This was confirmed on the spot by international organizations on the mission of humanitarian aid in the DPRK……

Owing to the typhoon damage, the yields of rice and maize are expected to drop at least 405,000 tons…..

The amount of the lost grain caused by natural disasters including drought, heat and typhoons in our country this year is estimated at more than 1.4 million tons in all.

Therefore, it is certain that the shortage of food will continue next year, too.

Source: KCNA 25 September 2000

Goff welcomes developments in relations with North Korea

Foreign Minister Phil Goff announced today that a delegation of New Zealand officials is to visit North Korea to discuss the development of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and North Korea….

“A small delegation led by Tony Browne, the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s North Asia Division, will visit Pyongyang between 19 and 23 September.

“This will be the first ever official visit from New Zealand to North Korea.

“At my meeting with the North Korean Foreign Minister, Paek Nam-sun, in Bangkok in July we agreed that the inter-Korean summit had created the opportunity for New Zealand to consider establishing relations with North Korea.

“The establishment of diplomatic relations will facilitate dialogue on issues important to both New Zealand and North Korea.

“Among the issues I have asked the delegation to raise with the North Koreans are regional security, inter-Korean relations, human rights and weapons of mass destruction which concern New Zealand, and the wider international community.

“The delegation also plans to discuss international efforts to help North Korea deal with its economic problems and will meet with United Nations and World Food Programme representatives in Pyongyang,” Mr Goff said.

Source NZ MFAT press release 19 September 2000