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2005 and preceding

• archive

• Kim Jong Il Greets Vietnam Communist Party Leader
  Pyongyang, February 1 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il sent a congratulatory message to Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Sunday on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Vietnam.
• B. Lynn Pascoe Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs
  B. Lynn Pascoe of the United States assumed the post of Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs on 1 March 2007. He was appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
  Before joining the United Nations, Mr. Pascoe was most recently the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, from October 2004 to February 2007. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the State Department in Washington, D.C., following postings as U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia and U.S. Special Negotiator for Regional Conflicts in the former Soviet Union. [UNUS]
• N.Korea Tasked with Building African Liberty Monument
  The African Renaissance Monument, a large bronze statue, is being made in the Senegalese capital of Dakar by a North Korean design company. The Mansudae Overseas Project Group of Companies is due to complete the monument by April to mark the 50th anniversary of Senegal's independence from French colonial rule. Standing at 50 m tall, the piece will tower over the 46-m Statue of Liberty in New York. The Wall Street Journal reported the reason why a project that symbolizes Africa's march to freedom and independence was commissioned to one of the most dictatorial regime on the planet is that North Korean monumental sculptures "are big, simple and cheap."
• 2 UN envoys to visit North to begin talks
  Tensions on peninsula ease as shells fall silent, Kaesong parley to resume February 01, 2010 NEW YORK - Two United Nations special envoys will make a visit to North Korea this month to discuss restoring stalled dialogue between the UN and North Korea, according to a senior-ranking UN official yesterday. Kim Won-soo, a special advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, told the JoongAng Ilbo that Lynn Pascoe, under secretary general for UN political affairs, and himself will visit the North from Feb. 9 to 12. The official added that the delegation visit aims to resume high-level talks that have been stalled since 2005 after UN envoy to North Korea Maurice Strong, under then-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, stepped down during a controversy over his ties to the Oil-for-Food Program. Kim said, �the UN delegation will meet high-raking North Korean officials and discuss various issues concerning mostly humanitarian aid projects for the North.�
• U.N. political chief to visit North Korea next month
  By Patrick Worsnip Reuters Sunday, January 31, 2010; 1:47 PM UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is sending his top political aide to North Korea next month for wide-ranging discussions with the reclusive communist state, the United Nations announced on Sunday. In a statement, the world body said that Lynn Pascoe, under-secretary-general for political affairs, would visit North Korea February 9-12 to discuss "all issues of mutual interest and concern in a comprehensive manner." Pascoe, who will travel as Ban's special envoy, is a former U.S. ambassador to Indonesia and is the most senior U.N. official in years to visit North Korea. He will also visit China, Japan and South Korea, the statement said.

• 10 years of DPRK-Italy Diplomatic Ties Marked
  Pyongyang, January 26 (KCNA) -- A friendly meeting took place at the DPRK embassy in Rome on Jan. 20 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Italy. Present on invitation were figures of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Senate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Asia of Italy. The DPRK ambassador and staff members of his embassy in Rome were on hand.
• Kim Yong Nam Conveys Sympathy to Haiti President
  Pyongyang, January 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Thursday sent a message of sympathy to Rene Preval, President of Haiti, in connection with strong earthquake that hit the country recently, claiming huge human and material losses. Expressing deep sympathy and consolation to the president and the inhabitants of the afflicted region, Kim in the message hoped that the president and government of Haiti would eradicate the aftermath of the disaster as early as possible and bring the life of the victims to normal.

• DPRK Contributes to Peace, Security, Development of Asia
  Pyongyang, December 14 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will make a positive contribution to peace, security, independent development and prosperity of Asia in firm unity with its other peoples in the future, too, said the head of the delegation of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, addressing the plenary meeting of the Fourth Asian Parliamentary Assembly held in Indonesia on Dec. 8. Extending thanks to peoples of different countries in Asia for having voiced support and solidarity with the Korean people in their efforts to preserve peace on the Korean Peninsula and achieve its reunification and build a great prosperous and powerful nation, the speaker continued:
• Iran 'Bought Masses (sic) of N.Korean Arms'
  Iran has imported piles of North Korean-made conventional weapons, the Washington Post reported Thursday, even though both countries are under UN sanctions over their nuclear programs. Weapons also went to two Palestinian militant organizations, the Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Islamist Hamas, the paper said. [Arms sales] [Imperialism] [UNUS] [Double standards] [Sanctions] [Legality] [Spin]
• The United Nations' Role in Peace and War.
  "The UN of the arms dealers - the most disreputable and yet profitable business on earth."
  By Denis Halliday
  Global Research, December 4, 2009 Global Research Public Lecture, Montreal, December 1, 2009 Some times the New York Times does the right thing. This morning the Editorial (December 1, 2009) condemned the Swiss referendum vote to prohibit the construction of minarets on Mosques throughout the country. And on the Op. Ed. Page Bob Herbert quoted Eisenhower � I hate war, as only a soldier who has lived it can, as one who has seen its brutality, it futility, its stupidity.� He added, and �:every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.� [UNUS] [Arms sales] [Double standards]

• Malaysian Embassies Help Korean Farmers
  Pyongyang, November 11 (KCNA) -- Rahimi Bin Harun, Malaysian ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of his embassy did a friendship work at the DPRK-Malaysia Friendship Ponghwa Co-op Farm in Kangdong County, Pyongyang, Wednesday. Being briefed on the immortal leadership feats performed by the peerlessly great men for the farm, they looked round the board bearing on-spot teachings given by President Kim Il Sung and the room devoted to the education in the revolutionary history, etc. They helped farmers in threshing bean. During break, they enjoyed an art performance at the farm and talked to its officials, deepening the friendship. They handed aid materials to the farm.
• Kim Yong Nam Congratulates Afghan President
  Pyongyang, November 4 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Hamid Karzai upon his reelection as President of Afghanistan. Extending congratulations to Karzai upon his reelection as President of Afghanistan, Kim in the message wished him success in his work.
• Seoul Backs UN Resolution on N.Korean Human Rights
  The South Korean government is co-sponsoring a UN resolution condemning human rights abuses in North Korea for the second year running. The Foreign Ministry on Sunday said the EU and Japan submitted a draft resolution on the North Korean human rights situation to the UN Secretariat last Friday co-sponsored by 49 nations including South Korea and the U.S. [Human rights] [Manipulation] [UNUS]
• UN Day Observed
  Pyongyang, October 30 (KCNA) -- Torben Due, acting UN resident coordinator in the DPRK, arranged a reception Thursday on the occasion of the UN Day. Present there on invitation were Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, officials concerned and diplomatic envoys of various countries here. Representatives of international organizations here were present there. Speeches were made there.

• Myanmar, North Korea Feature at Asian Summit
  By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: October 24, 2009 Filed at 3:49 a.m. ET CHA-AM, Thailand (AP) -- Southeast Asian leaders, having launched the region's first human rights watchdog, called Saturday on military-ruled Myanmar to conduct free and fair elections next year but refrained from criticizing one of the world's worst human rights offenders.
  Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, however, delivered a strong condemnation of North Korea, delegation spokesman Kazuo Kodama said. ''Japan cannot tolerate nuclear and ballistic missile development by North Korea,'' Kodama quoted the prime minister as saying. ''In order to insure peace and stability in the region, we must have comprehensive agreement. I urge you to close ranks with me.'' [Hatoyama]
• Good Moon Rising?
  Ian Williams | October 14, 2009 This year's General Assembly attracted more media attention than the United Nations usually attracts, at least since the feeding frenzy over the "oil for food" controversy. It was not just the recent stand-up routines of Libya's Qaddafi, Iran's Ahmadinejad, and Venezuela's Chavez that won the attention of the large press contingent. This time the organization really was dealing with substantive issues of global importance, and dealing with them rather than evading them with the traditional parade of orotundity. Disarmament and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, climate change, and a fair deal for the poor in the economic crisis were all on the agenda. It may not be coincidental that these issues are hardly calculated to warm a neocon heart. [Ban Ki-moon] [Continuity]
• U.N. chief portrayed as 'good moon rising'
  A renowned online publisher of analyses on U.S. foreign policy ran a commentary on the diplomatic achievements of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, whose effectiveness was recently questioned by several Western media. Journalist and author Ian Williams wrote in a Foreign Policy in Focus commentary titled "Good Moon Rising?" on Wednesday that Ban deserves more credit for last month's U.N. General Assembly.
  The FPIF senior analyst was also optimistic about Ban's prospects of winning a second term. "As a nominee of John Bolton, Bush's U.N. representative, Ban might be expected to face an Obama administration veto of a second term," he said. "But this is doubtful, however, since Ban's and Obama's agendas generally seem to be in close harmony. Above all, they subscribe to the Churchillian principle that jaw-jaw is better than war-war." [Continuity] [Ban Ki-moon]
• DPRK's Will to Contribute to Attaining UN Millennium Goal Reiterated
  Pyongyang, October 14 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government will boost the friendly and cooperative relations with UNESCO and all its member states and make a positive contribution to the international efforts to attain the UN millennium goal of development in the future, too, said the head of a DPRK delegation when addressing the plenary meeting of the 35th General Conference of UNESCO on October 9.
• DPRK's Stand on World Peace and Security Clarified
  Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK who is leading the DPRK delegation, said at the plenary session of the 64th UN General Assembly on Sept. 28 that the DPRK government would fulfil all its responsibilities for defending peace and security in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world. The DPRK has done all it could to achieve the peaceful reunification of the country, remove the nuclear threat and the source of war from the Korean Peninsula and bring about peace and stability, he noted, and went on to say: Its efforts, however, have not met a response from the United States. The U.S. has dealt with the Korean issue only from the view of its Asia strategy and does not want to see the whole Korean Peninsula denuclearized. [NK US policy] [US NK policy] [China confrontation]
• DPRK Calls for Developing South-South Cooperation
  Pyongyang, October 1 (KCNA) -- It is the consistent stand of the DPRK to expand and develop the South-South cooperation. Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK who is heading its delegation, said this when addressing the foreign ministerial meeting of the group of 77 held at the UN Headquarters on Sept. 25 while the 64th UN General Assembly is in session. He recalled that the DPRK government has paid deep attention to boosting the South-South cooperation and taken an active part in the activities of the non-aligned movement, the group of 77 and the UN system, rendering disinterested support and exerting devoted efforts. He referred to the fact that the DPRK initiated cooperation projects in various fields including agriculture, bio-science, standardization and measurement for different developing countries in Asia and Africa, and has made governmental efforts to implement them, gaining good experience and successes in this course. The DPRK government will as always creditably fulfil its responsibility and duty in establishing a new international economic order based on justice, equality and impartiality and further expanding and developing the South-South cooperation based on collective self-reliance, he declared.

• N. Korean Delegation Heads for UN
  A team of North Korean delegates are on their way to New York to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, a plenum for the world's largest inter-state body, amid renewed hope for the often-stalled nuclear negotiation, prompted by the latest overtures from Kim Jong-il. The North Korean delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil-yon left Pyongyang on Friday to attend the 64th U.N. General Assembly, Yonhap News Agency said, citing the North's Korean Central News Agency. In talks with a visiting Chinese envoy on Friday, Kim said his country is willing to resolve the nuclear dispute through "bilateral or multilateral talks." His remarks, reported by China's government-run Xinhua News Agency, hinted that North Korea may possibly rejoin six-party denuclearization talks it quit earlier this year. Washington welcomed Kim's reported remarks. Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs, said he understands Kim's remarks were in line with the U.S. position that any bilateral contact between the two countries should be held within the six-party framework. The multilateral forum aimed at ending the North's nuclear drive also involves South Korea, China, Japan and Russia. "It sounds as if North Korea is underscoring that it will accept those conditions," Campbell told reporters in Tokyo, where he visited to meet with officials of the new Yukio Hatoyama government launched earlier this week. "If we have any initial bilateral interaction with North Korea, it will be as a means to get back to the six-party talks," he said. Washington has said it will decide after the U.N. session whether and when to hold bilateral talks with Pyongyang. The U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy, Stephen Bosworth, has a North Korean invitation to visit Pyongyang. [Bilateral]

• Ban Ki Moon and R2P
  Ian Williams | August 3, 2009 Kofi Annan's greatest achievement as UN secretary general was his deft steering of the UN General Assembly to accept the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine at the 2005 World Summit. Rather than attempting the impossible task of rewriting the UN Charter, Annan got the assembled delegates to reinterpret it. The assembled government leaders declared that the threats to international peace and security that came under the organization's remit included crimes against humanity, even when committed by a sovereign state within its borders. Annan's successor Ban Ki Moon is a staunch supporter of the concept of R2P. [Ban Ki-moon] [UNUS] [Humanitarian interventionism] [Camouflage]

• Kim Yong Nam Back Home
  Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, came back home Monday after participating in the 15th NAM Summit held in Egypt. He was greeted at the airport by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the SPA, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, the Egyptian ambassador to the DPRK and the Chinese charge d'affaires ad interim to the DPRK.
• NAM Summit Supports DPRK's Efforts for Peace and Security
  Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- The 15th NAM Summit, held in Egypt, expressed full support and solidarity with the DPRK striving for peace and security in the Korean Peninsula. Especially, the member nations of the Non-Aligned Movement recognized that the "six-party talks" are needed no longer, and decided not to reflect this matter in the final document of the summit. In this connection, the DPRK delegation expressed the conviction that the NAM would as ever extend invariable support to the just cause of the DPRK. And it reclarified the steadfast stand of the DPRK government to remain faithful to the idea of the NAM and make positive contribution to its strengthening and development in the future, too. [NAM]
• XV Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
  Sharm El Sheikh, 11-16 July 2009
  Official website
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Foreign Heads of State and Governments
  Pyongyang, July 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly who is attending the 15th NAM summit, Thursday met and had a talk with Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, president of Egypt. Present there were Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and the DPRK ambassador to Egypt from the DPRK side and the secretary of Information of the Presidency of Egypt from the Egyptian side. On the same day, Kim separately met and had talks with Madav Kumar Nepal, prime minister of Nepal, and George Yong-Boon Yeo, foreign minister of Singapore. Kim separately met and had talks with Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, president of Sudan, Datuk Seri Mohamad Najib Bin Tun Haji Abudul Razak, prime minister of Malaysia, and Kasit Piromya, foreign minister of Thailand, Wednesday. Financial police in Lucca became suspicious and, in cooperation with the Austrian government, tracked the relevant bank accounts back to Kim. Libero-News said investigations are now focused on how Kim is getting supplies of luxury goods from Italy and other European regions. The confiscated yachts will be put up for auction and the money already paid for them has been frozen.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Presidents of Cuba and Viet Nam
  Pyongyang, July 16 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly who is attending the 15th NAM summit, Tuesday separately met and had talks with Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State of Cuba, and Nguyen Minh Triet, President of Viet Nam. The talks were held in a friendly atmosphere.
• Non-Aligned States Unlikely to Take N.Korea's Side
  UN condemnation of North Korea is apparently being heeded at the 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt. Diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. say North Korea's protests are finding little sympathy from other members of the movement, and this was due to the U.S. government using its diplomatic weight behind the scenes. The North is a full member of the movement. The U.S. and South Korea are not, but have been seeking support from NAM member states for UN Security Council Resolution 1874, which was passed after the North's recent nuclear test. Cuba, Egypt and other key members of the movement, have been seeking to improve ties with the U.S. since President Barack Obama came to power. As a result, the final statement at the end of the summit on Thursday is not expected to register North Korea's protests against six-party talks on its nuclear program nor any clauses regarding the Korean Peninsula, which the Stalinist country had insisted on during previous summits. Formed more than five decades ago during the Cold War, the NAM was designed to be a group of countries that do not consider themselves aligned with any particular superpower or bloc. North Korea joined in 1975 and has been attending each year as a regular member. South Korea has been attending since 1997 as an observer. [Softwar] [US dominance][NAM] [UNUS]
• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Egypt
  Pyongyang, July 14 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, arrived in Sharm El Sheikh, a local city of Egypt, Monday to attend the 15th summit of non-aligned countries. [NAM]
• Kim Yong Nam Leaves for Egypt
  Pyongyang, July 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Saturday left here to attend in the 15th summit of non-aligned countries to be held in Egypt. He was seen off at the airport by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the SPA, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, the Egyptian ambassador to the DPRK and the charge d'affaires ad interim of China. [NAM
• South Korea in a new Asia initiative
  By Zhiqun Zhu Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say. Please click here if you are interested in contributing. While North Korea has grabbed the world's attention again in recent months, few people have noticed a new diplomatic initiative launched by South Korean President Lee Myung-bak earlier this year. If fully implemented as envisioned, the new policy, dubbed "New Asia Initiative", will not only enhance South Korea's international standing but promote peace and prosperity throughout Asia.
• DPRK Delegate Reiterates Its Stand on Terrorism
  Pyongyang, July 6 (KCNA) -- It is the consistent stand of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to resolutely oppose all forms of terrorism and any support to it, declared a delegate of the DPRK addressing the meeting of the Special Committee on International Terrorism held on June 29. Terrorism is now steadily escalating in different parts of the world despite the international efforts to combat it, seriously threatening the lives of people, stability of societies and world peace and security and, furthermore, infringement upon sovereign states and extreme human rights abuses are being justified under the pretext of "war on terrorism", he noted, and continued: The United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq and is escalating the "anti-terror war" not only in those countries but into their neighboring countries, massacring civilians. This is typical of state-sponsored terrorism and hideous human rights abuses. If such state-sponsored terrorism is allowed to go on, international efforts to put an end to it will never prove successful.
• DPRK Delegate Calls for New International Financial and Economic Order
  Pyongyang, July 5 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government will positively join in the world efforts to establish a new international financial and economic order, in the future, too, declared a delegate of the DPRK addressing the UN meeting on the international financial and economic crisis and its impact on development held on June 29. Recalling that the worldwide financial and economic crisis that originated from the U.S. last year is adversely affecting political, economic, cultural and all other fields of many countries, he said, adding that this hardest hit developing countries and is throwing serious difficulties in the way of attaining the internationally agreed targets of development including the millennium goals for development. It is absolutely intolerable that the aftermath of the economic slowdown spawned by the burst of the bubble of the capitalist monetary market is more directly and seriously affecting the peoples of developing countries than those of the developed countries, he said. He expressed a positive view on the fact that the UN analyzed the worldwide financial and economic crisis and its cause and addressed in good time the important issues including the reform of the international financial system for the first time in its history. He held that the only way of weathering the present worldwide financial and economic crisis is to do away with the outdated international economic order and establish a new international economic order whereby the sovereignty and interests of all countries are guaranteed on an equal basis. [Independent states]
• UN's Ban Ki-moon under fire for praising Burma leaders
  Julian Borger, diplomatic editor guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 July 2009 19.24 BST Article history The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, faced a barrage of criticism tonight for apparently praising the Burmese junta without winning any concessions over human rights or a move towards democracy. Ban was under pressure to produce concrete results from his two-day mission to Burma, which was criticised as providing an endorsement to the Burmese leadership just as it is staging a trial of the opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The high-stakes visit to Burma comes at a critical time for Ban, whose low-key approach to his job has been criticised as ineffectual. He came under further fire on arrival in Naypyidaw, the regime's headquarters, when he told the head of the junta, General Than Shwe: "I appreciate your commitment to moving your country forward." "That is absolute nonsense," said Brad Adams, a Burma specialist at Human Rights Watch. "It's just what we implored him not to say, to make these diplomatic gaffes. Than Shwe has steadily moved his country backwards." [UNUS]
• Nowhere Man
  Why Ban Ki-moon is the world's most dangerous Korean. By Jacob Heilbrunn | JUNE 22, 2009
  Ban Ki-moon, a general nonentity as secretary-general
  For such a seemingly crucial position, the secretary-generalship of the United Nations has historically had a rather low bar for success. Kurt Waldheim? In his memoir, A Dangerous Place, Daniel Patrick Moynihan recounted that Waldheim functioned as "a post office, a somewhat antique but reasonably efficient public service run along Austro-Hungarian lines. As one sat down with him, he would be mentally sorting the mail while making small conversation." Boutros Boutros-Ghali? His arrogance and fecklessness as the Serbs laid waste to Bosnia prompted the Clinton administration to veto a second term. Kofi Annan? Brought low by his son Kojo's financial peculation in the Iraq oil-for-food scandal.
  Even in this unimpressive company, though, Ban Ki-moon appears to have set the standard for failure. It's not that Ban has committed any particularly egregious mistakes in his 2� years on the job. But at a time when global leadership is urgently needed, when climate change and international terrorism and the biggest financial crisis in 60 years might seem to require some�any!�response, the former South Korean foreign minister has instead been trotting the globe collecting honorary degrees, issuing utterly forgettable statements, and generally frittering away any influence he might command. He has become a kind of accidental tourist, a dilettante on the international stage.
  Ban's flaws were obvious dating back to his decades toiling in the South Korean foreign ministry, where he earned a telling nickname, "The Bureaucrat." Luckily for Ban, if not for the rest of the world, The Bureaucrat was exactly what the Bush administration was looking for after years of tussling with the assertively anti-American Annan. When it became Asia's turn to nominate a secretary-general, Bush's secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, made Ban's election her pet project. [UNUS] [Ban Ki-moon]

• Unique Exhibition of North Korean Paintings at the Nha Trang Sea Festival in Vietnam
  Nha Trang, Vietnam, June 05, 2009 --(PR.com)-- For the first time ever North Korean paintings will be shown in Vietnam at an art exhibition during the Nha Trang Sea Festival. The festival is expected to attract large numbers of visitors from Vietnam and other Asian as well as Western countries and will be held from June 6 - 12. With more than 130 paintings it is probably the largest collection of paintings from the Democratic People�s Republic of Korea (North Korea) ever shown in Southeast Asia.
• Pyongyang Painters.com
  Exclusively introducing renowned painters as well as new talents from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) Art collectors, investors, experts and everybody else interested in discovering North Korean fine arts
• Independence, Basis for Strengthening Internationalism
  Pyongyang, June 4 (KCNA) -- Political independence is linked with internationalism and is the basis for strengthening it. Political independence is manifested in exercising full-fledged sovereignty and equality in external relations. There are in the world parties and countries, big and small, and economically developed and underdeveloped nations. But, they are all equal and independent. Therefore, one should not infringe on other's sovereignty and one's sovereignty should not be disturbed by others. Political independence is linked with internationalism and there can not be internationalism apart from independence. Internationalism is not an abstract concept divorced from the revolution of each country but closely related with it. Only when one makes revolution successfully in one's country, can one fully support other's revolution with experience and substantial strength and fulfill the international duty. Political independence is also the basis for consolidating internationalism. Internationalist unity should be voluntary and equal by nature. For this purpose, political independence should be fully ensured between countries. There can be neither friendship nor solidarity among the nations when someone orders other countries to act this or that way, threatening their sovereignty without respecting it or meddling in their internal affairs. The Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK have exercised full-fledged political sovereignty and equality and successfully combined political independence with internationalism in the external relations by uniting with the socialist countries, non-aligned countries and other developing countries and strengthening solidarity with the countries which are friendly with them on the principle of territorial integrity, respect of sovereignty, nonaggression, noninterference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefits. As seen above, independence in politics is linked with true patriotism and genuine internationalism, not "nationalism" or "isolationism". [Independent states] [NK China]

• Cambodian PM offers condolences at Roh's death
  By Lee Chi-dong PHNOM PENH, May 23 (Yonhap) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday offered his condolences following the death of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who he said made large contributions to the improvement of ties between Korea and Southeast Asia. "I don't know how to express my sadness. I express sincere, deep condolences," the prime minister told a group of South Korean reporters visiting here. "I didn't hear yet about the exact reason for his death, but I can't contain my sadness over the news."
• Talks between Parliamentary Delegations of DPRK and Indonesia Held
  Pyongyang, May 20 (KCNA) -- Talks between the delegation of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the delegation of the Parliament of Indonesia were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday. Present there from the DPRK side were the members of the delegation of the SPA of the DPRK headed by Chairman Choe Thae Bok and from the opposite side were the members of the delegation of the Parliament of Indonesia headed by Speaker Agung Laksono and Indonesian Ambassador to the DPRK Daulat Hotma Audison Passaribu. At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the relations between the parliaments of the two countries and issues of mutual concern.
• North, U.S. both will be present at upcoming forum
  May 20, 2009 BANGKOK - North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun and his American counterpart, Hillary Clinton, will attend the Asean Regional Forum to be held in Thailand in July, a Thai official said yesterday. �North Korea recently confirmed that its foreign minister will attend the [forum] slated for July 17 through 23,� Arthayudh Srisamoot, deputy director-general of the Thai foreign ministry�s Asean bureau, told a group of South Korean reporters on a trip here. [ARF]
• Banquet Hosted by Zimbabwean VP in Honor of Kim Yong Nam
  Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- Vice-President of Zimbabwe Joyce Teurai Ropa Mujuru hosted a banquet on May 12 in honor of Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, on a visit to Zimbabwe. Present there on invitation were Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, DPRK Ambassador to Zimbabwe An Hui Jong and other suite members. Present there were ministers including Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, commanders of the army, the mayor of Harare and officials concerned. The banquet proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.
• Talks between Kim Yong Nam and Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma Held
  Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Talks were held between Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of South Africa, at the presidential palace in Pretoria on May 10. At the talks both sides discussed the matter of further developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two counties in various domains and exchanged views on matters of mutual concern. The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere. Present there were Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, foreign minister of South Africa.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Foreign State Leaders
  Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, on a visit to South Africa met and had a talk with Zambian President Rupiah Bwezani Banda who paid a courtesy call on him on May 10. The Zambian President said that he was well aware of the DPRK's support and encouragement rendered to the African people in the struggle for independence, freedom, national liberation and economic development. Noting that the DPRK has long and fully supported the just cause of the Zambian people, he expressed the steadfast stand to steadily boost the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries. Kim Yong Nam also met and had a talk with Esteban Lazo Hernandez, vice-president of the Council of State of Cuba who paid a courtesy call on him on the same day. The vice-president referred to the bilateral relations continuously developing on good terms despite the complicate international situation, adding that Cuba positively supports the principled strong stand taken by the DPRK and its efforts to achieve the peaceful reunification of the country without foreign forces' interference. Noting that the DPRK's satellite launch is the just exercise of the right of a sovereign state, he declared that Cuba decisively rejects any sanctions against the DPRK and resolutely opposes high-handed and arbitrary practices in the international arena. During his visit to South Africa Kim Yong Nam met with the Presidents of Namibia, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya, the chairman of the African Union Committee, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and the vice-president of Gabon who attended the swearing in ceremony of the South African President.
• Stand on Int'l Information Activities Expressed
  Pyongyang, May 11 (KCNA) -- At the 31st meeting of the UN Committee on Information on May 5, the head of the DPRK delegation expressed the stand on the matter of providing practical measures to make the international information activities contribute to peace and security, sound social progress and promotion of sustained development. He said that priority should be attached to the discussion on the ways for establishing a new and fair international information and communications order. [Media]
• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Singapore
  Pyongyang, May 7 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and his party arrived in Singapore on Wednesday.
• Kim Yong Nam Leaves
  Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, left here on Wednesday to visit South Africa and Zimbabwe. He was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun and other suite members.
• Talks between FMs of DPRK and Cuba Held
  Pyongyang, May 6 (KCNA) -- Talks between Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister of the DPRK who is leading the government delegation on a visit to Cuba, and Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuban foreign minister, were held in Havana on May 4. Present there from the DPRK side were members of the delegation and the DPRK ambassador to Cuba and from the opposite side a vice-minister of Foreign Affairs and officials concerned. At the talks both sides discussed the matter of further developing the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and exchanged views on the international issues of mutual concern.
• UN chief rejects further inquiry in Gaza
  Julian Borger, diplomatic editor guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 5 May 2009 20.54 BST Article historyOne of the more striking features of today's UN inquiry into the Gaza war is the secretary general's prompt rejection of one of its key findings. In its 11th and final recommendation, the board of inquiry said the killings and injuries that happened beyond its narrow remit, outside the walls of the UN compound in Gaza, "should be investigated as part of an impartial inquiry mandated, and adequately resourced, to investigate allegations of violations of international humanitarian law". In his covering letter, however, Ban Ki-moon, said he did not "plan any further inquiry", opting not to use the secretary general's prerogative to order his own inquiries into allegations of serious human rights abuses. [UNUS]
• DPRK FM Spokesman on Adoption of Final Document at Ministerial Meeting of Coordinating Committee of NAM
  Pyongyang, May 1 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the follow answer to a question put by KCNA Friday in connection with the adoption of the final document at the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement: The ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Committee of the NAM was held in Havana, Cuba on April 29 and 30 and the final document was adopted there. The meeting decided not to include a Korea-related article dealing with the "six-party talks" in the final document, taking into consideration the recent situation prevailing in the Korean Peninsula. The said article which had so far been included in the final documents of the NAM meetings was excluded this time. This fully reflects the present situation in which the "six-party talks" disappeared due to the vicious moves of the forces hostile toward the DPRK.

• Kim Yong Nam to Visit South Africa and Zimbabwe
  Pyongyang, April 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, will soon visit South Africa to attend the inaugural ceremony of the President of the country. He will also visit Zimbabwe.
• Iranian Ambassador to DPRK Hosts Reception
  Pyongyang, April 22 (KCNA) -- Morteza Moradian, Iranian ambassador to the DPRK, gave a reception at his embassy on April 21 on the occasions of the birth anniversary of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il's reelection as chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK.
• Kim Jong Il Sends Greetings to Syrian President
  Pyongyang, April 16 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Thursday sent a message of greetings to Bashar Al-Assad, regional secretary of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party and President of Syria, on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the independence of Syria.
• The Disunited Nations
  Amy L. S. Staples. The Birth of Development: How the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Health Organization Have Changed the World 1945�1965 (New Studies in U.S. Foreign Relations). Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 2006. xvi + 368 pp. Notes, bibliography, index. $55.00. When most people think of the United Nations, the first images that come to mind are of hands raised around the Security Council and the blue helmets and white jeeps of the peacekeepers. For many, the United Nations is, above all, a moral force, issuing an authoritative imprimatur to all manner of ideas, whether upholding human rights and collective security or fighting genocide and global warming. Whereas detractors deride the General Assembly as a debating society for dictators, for supporters it bears the potential to make real Tennyson�s old dream of a �Parliament of Man, the federation of the world.� Still others imagine the United Nations is already part of some sinister plan, in which the secretary general commands squadrons of black helicopters that will one day swoop down and impose world government. [UNUS]
• U.N. Council May Rebuke North Korea
  NEIL MacFARQUHAR Published: April 11, 2009 UNITED NATIONS � The major players on the United Nations Security Council reached a compromise Saturday to chastise North Korea for launching a rocket while avoiding tough new punishments that Russia and China had feared would drive the North away from negotiations over dismantling its nuclear program. Text of U.N. Security Council Draft Statement on North Korea (April 11, 2009) The Council may vote as soon as Monday on the American draft of a presidential statement, a step less forceful than a resolution, that would tighten existing sanctions by singling out specific North Korean organizations and expanding the list of banned goods related to its nuclear and missile programs. [Satellite] [Sanctions] [Double standards]
• Key U.N. Powers Agree on N. Korea Statement
  By Colum Lynch Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, April 12, 2009; Page A12 UNITED NATIONS, April 11 -- The U.N. Security Council's five permanent powers and Japan reached agreement Saturday on a statement condemning North Korea's April 5 rocket launch over Japan. The text would revive a 2 1/2 -year-old threat of financial and travel sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Pyongyang's missile program. [Satellite] [Sanctions] [Double standards]
• Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry Rejects Anti-DPRK "Resolution"
  Pyongyang, March 30 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave the following answer to the question raised by KCNA on Monday as regards the adoption of an anti-DPRK "resolution" at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council: Another anti-DPRK "resolution" peppered with lies and fabrications was adopted at the 10th meeting of the UN Human Rights Council as what happened last year. This is a product of the plot being hatched by the EU and Japan each year to achieve a sinister political aim. [Manipulation] [Human rights]

• UN adopts resolution on the North
  Grave concerns about systematic human rights abuses March 28, 2009 The United Nations has adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by South Korea, denouncing human rights abuses in North Korea. The UN�s human rights council has reappointed an investigator on the North to continue reporting on abuses there for another year. [Manipulation]
• Indonesian navy chief in S. Korea for weapons, training cooperation
  Indonesia's top naval officer visited South Korea Wednesday on a three-day trip aimed at boosting weapons trade and personnel exchanges, the Navy here said Wednesday, according to Yonhap News Agency. Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, Indonesia's Navy Chief of Staff, arrived here on invitation by his South Korean counterpart Jung Ok-keun, who visited Jakarta in May last year, the Navy said in a statement. The two met at the Jinhae naval base in southern South Korea to discuss mutual security issues and ways to boost cooperation in weapons systems, the statement said, adding Tedjo Edhy will also tour South Korean manufacturers of naval weapons during the trip. "The visit is part of routine exchanges between the countries, who have increased their cooperation in naval training over the years," a Navy officer said. South Korea has been pushing to export submarines to Indonesia, which could in turn provide transport aircraft. [Arms sales] [Proliferation]
• Helen Clark lands top UN job
  Mitchell Hall | Wednesday March 25 2009 - 10:35am In a few hours former Labour prime minister from 1999-2008 Helen Clark will be named the new UN Development Program chief. Highly placed sources have told The Trans-Tasman Political Letter that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is confirming the appointment today. The UNDP administrator job is the third highest ranking member of the United Nations after the United Nations Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General. It will be the highest international post held by a New Zealander since former Labour prime minister Mike Moore was director-general of the World Trade Organisation. [UNDP]
• UN to Discuss Sanctions on N. Korea
  By Na Jeong-ju Staff Reporter The U.N. Security Council will discuss possible sanctions on North Korea if the communist country test-fires a missile or launches a communications satellite, the U.N. chief and South Korea's top diplomat indicated, Friday. ``That's what Security Council members will discuss when and after anything happens,'' U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told a news conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York in response to a question about whether the United Nations will move to impose sanctions on Pyongyang. ``I'm concerned about North Korea's recent move to launch a satellite or long-range missile. This will threaten the peace and stability in the region,'' he said, adding the launch violates a U.N. resolution in October 2006 that prohibits North Korea from test-firing a ballistic missile or conducting nuclear experiments [UNUS] [Double standards]
• DPRK Delegate on UN Peace-keeping Operations
  Pyongyang, March 3 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegate made a speech at the session of the UN Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations on Feb. 24. He said: The UN peace-keeping operation has increased in number and size as never before but regrettably, dispute and conflict are getting steadily escalated in different parts of the world, instead of being reduced. Even such practices are taking place frequently as that the peace-keeping forces and UN officials became the targets of attack. The facts show that there are still many problems to be settled in UN peace-keeping operations. Primary efforts should be exerted to remove the source of all frictions and conflicts, the delegate urged, saying that the root cause is just the Cold-War way of thinking and confrontation policy. It is important to strictly adhere to the objective and principle of the UN Charter and all the principles related to the peace-keeping operation in every UN peace-keeping operation, he stressed, adding: If any peace-keeping operation is decided on in the interests of some countries and used as a lever for interference in other countries' internal affairs, such operation may, on the contrary, aggravate any dispute. He went on to say:
  It is abnormal that the "UN Command," unhampered by the UN, remains in Korea, without getting any orders or financial support from the UN, still now though over half a century has passed since the ceasefire there. [UNUS]

• Photo of Kim Il Sung Taken Together with Seyed Ali Khamenei Displayed at Iranian Embassy
  Pyongyang, February 19 (KCNA) -- A function was held at the Iranian embassy in Pyongyang on Thursday to display a photograph President Kim Il Sung had taken with leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Seyed Ali Khamenei on the occasions of the 20th anniversary of their meeting and the 30th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
• Friendly Meeting with Members of Missions of International Organizations Here Held
  Pyongyang, February 5 (KCNA) -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranged a friendly gathering with members of the missions of international organizations here on Feb. 5 on the occasion of the birthday of General Secertary Kim Jong Il. Present there on invitation were Torben Due, an acting UN resident coordinator to the DPRK, and other members of the missions of international organizations here. On hand were officials of the Foreign Ministry including Vice-Minister Pak Kil Yon. Speeches were made at the meeting.
• Anniversary of Victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran Marked
  Pyongyang, February 2 (KCNA) -- A meeting and film show took place at the Chollima Hall of Culture on Feb. 2 to mark the 30th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Present there on invitation were Morteza Moradian, Iranian ambassador to the DPRK, and staff members of his embassy. Jong Yong Su, minister of Labour, who is chairman of the DPRK-Iran Friendship Association, addressing the meeting, said that the Iranian people have registered many successes in the efforts to develop economy and improve the standard of the people's living since the victory of revolution, smashing the U.S. hostile moves against Iran.
• S. Korea Seeks Ties With Syria
  By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter South Korea is pushing ahead with establishing diplomatic ties with Syria, known as one of North Korea's staunchest allies, diplomatic sources here said Monday. The Seoul government proposed the formalization of diplomatic relations with the Middle Eastern nation in 2005, but Syria rejected the offer, citing its relationship with North Korea, which remains technically at war with South Korea. In 2006, the then Roh Moo-hyun administration proposed establishing a consular office to which Syria was positive.

• What Is Massacre Aimed at
  Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- Israel is steadily escalating its brutal military attacks on Gaza Strip of Palestine, turning a deaf ear to the strong protest and condemnation of the international community. The operation started on December 27 last year with an air raid involving more than 60 fighters and armed helicopters and it entered a ground operation on January 3.

• DPRK-Singapore Inter-Governmental Agreement Inked
  Pyongyang, December 3 (KCNA) -- An agreement on promoting and protecting investment between the governments of the DPRK and Singapore was signed in Singapore on Nov. 2. Present at the signing ceremony from the DPRK side were members of the DPRK government economic delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam on a visit to Singapore and the DPRK ambassador to that country and from the Singaporean side Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang and officials concerned. The agreement was inked by Ri and Lim. That day an agreement on the bilateral cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce of the DPRK and the Singaporean Business Federation was signed.
• Disbandment of "UN Command" Demanded
  Pyongyang, November 3 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegate, addressing the meeting of the Fourth Committee of the 63rd UN General Assembly on Oct. 27, demanded the disbandment of the "UN Command" in south Korea. He referred to the fact that the abuse of the sacred name of the UN is going on due to the "UN Command" in south Korea. He held that the "UN Command" is nothing but the U.S. forces command as it is a product of the Cold War. It is generally recognized fact that the "UN Command" has no relations with the UN as far as its administration and budget, etc. are concerned, he noted, and went on: It cannot but be an abnormal thing that the "UN Command" is still present in south Korea beyond the control of the UN though 55 years have passed since the truce in Korea. Nevertheless, the U.S. has persistently insisted on the continued existence of the above-said command. This is aimed to justify and perpetuate the U.S. forces' presence in south Korea and bring multinational forces to the Korean Peninsula with ease in any time in case of emergency. Ever since its appearance the command has brought unspeakable misfortune to the Korean people and thrown hurdles in the way of reunification of Korea, hamstringing the implementation of the June 15 North-South Joint Declaration which clarified the idea of "By our nation itself" and the October 4 declaration, a programme for implementing it. The "UN Command" should be dissolved without delay as required by the resolution of the 30th UN General Assembly, he urged. [UNUS] [Military presence]

• DPRK Delegate on Reforms of UNSC
  Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- The DPRK delegate, in a speech made at the plenary meeting of the 63rd UN General Assembly on November 19 which discussed the issue of reforming the UNSC, said that the UNSC's arrogation has reached a serious phase as evidenced by the fact that it is used for meeting the interests of some specified countries in many cases and issues beyond its mandate are frequently dealt with. The UNSC should become a body responsible for substantially ensuring the international peace and security and not act a tool for justifying specified countries' moves to meet their strategic interests, he stressed. Saying that the principle of impartiality should be thoroughly observed in the activities of the UNSC, he held that disputes should be settled mainly by parties concerned through peaceful dialogues and negotiations. [Independent states]
• What's Your First Thought About Korea?
  When foreign opinion-makers think about Korea, often the first image that springs to mind is that of a divided country. According to a survey conducted by Corea Image Communication Institute, 39.3 percent of the 117 foreign opinion leaders surveyed -- including CEOs of foreign firms, bank managers, diplomats, and professors who either reside in Korea or have visited -- said their first image of Korea was of �a divided country,� followed by Kimchi (18 percent), Samsung (12 percent), and North Korea�s nuclear issues (6 percent). [Image]
• UN Commission Passes N.Korea Resolution
  The UN Commission on Human Rights last Friday passed a resolution urging North Korea to improve its human rights record. The resolution will now likely be adopted by a full session of the UN General Assembly next month. AP reported the resolution was passed by a vote of 95 to 24 with 62 abstentions. The resolution expressed "very serious concern" at conditions in North Korea, citing North Korea's harsh treatment of recaptured refugees, restrictions on freedom of religion and thought, and its violations of workers' rights. It was initiated by 51 nations, including the EU and Japan. South Korea jointed them as a co-sponsor for the first time after abstaining or absenting itself in previous years with the exception of 2006. North Korea immediately rejected the UN resolution. AP quoted deputy chief of North Korea's mission to the UN Pak Dok-hun as saying, "The resolution is a product of a political plot to forcibly change North Korea's system and ideology." He warned South Korea �will pay dearly� for sponsoring the resolution. [Manipulation] [UNUS] [Decline]
• Greetings to Lebanese President
  Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Michel Suleiman, President of the Republic of Lebanon, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of its independence. The message wished the President and people of Lebanon successes in their efforts to ensure the peace and stability of the country and national unity and achieve progress and prosperity of the country.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Palestinian Ambassador
  Pyongyang, November 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a talk with Mohammad Shahta Zarab, Palestinian ambassador to the DPRK, on Friday when the latter paid a farewell call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall. Present on the occasion was Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.
• Agreement on Cooperation Signed between DPRK and Kuwait
  Pyongyang, November 19 (KCNA) -- An agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of City Management of the DPRK and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development was signed here Wednesday. Present at the signing ceremony from the DPRK side were Vice-Minister of City Management Ri Kang Hui and officials concerned and from the opposite side the delegation of the Kuwait fund led by Deputy Director General Hesham Al-Waqayan.
• Kim Yong Nam Greets Cambodian King
  Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, on Nov. 8 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of its independence.
• DPRK Clarifies Its Will to Contribute to Int'l Efforts for Protection and Improvement of Human Rights
  Pyongyang, November 5 (KCNA) -- The government of the DPRK will as ever further strengthen and develop the Korean-style socialist system and positively contribute to the international efforts for the protection and improvement of human rights. A delegate of the DPRK declared this when discussing the item "protection and improvement of human rights" at the meeting of the 3rd Committee of the 63rd UN General Assembly on Oct. 29. The human rights issue is not a privileged monopoly granted to any specified country or to forces and there can be neither "judge" nor "defendant" as far as international human rights issues are concerned, he noted, and continued:
• Day of United Nations Observed
  Pyongyang, October 30 (KCNA) -- Jean Pierre De Margerie, acting resident coordinator of the UN to the DPRK, hosted a reception on Wednesday on the occasion of the Day of the United Nations. Present there on invitation were Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, officials concerned and diplomatic envoys of various countries here. � Representatives of international organizations here were on hand. � Speeches were made at the reception.

• Kim Yong Nam Meets Syrian Delegation �
  � � � � Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with a delegation of the Syrian Trade Unions Federation headed by its President Mohammed Shaban Azzooz who is president of the World Federation of Trade Unions, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Monday. �
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Vietnam Delegation
  Pyongyang, October 7 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security headed by its Minister Le Hong Anh, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., the Communist Party of Vietnam, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today.
• Nuclear bond for North Korea and Myanmar
  By Norman Robespierre YANGON - A recent flurry of high-level contacts between North Korea and Myanmar raises new nuclear proliferation concerns between the two pariah states, one of which already possesses nuclear-weapon capabilities and the other possibly aspiring. At least three delegations led by flag-level officers from Myanmar's army have traveled to Pyongyang in the past three months, hot on the heels of the two sides' re-establishment last year of formal diplomatic relations. According to a source familiar with the travel itineraries of Myanmar officials, Brigadier General Aung Thein Lin visited North Korea in mid-September.
• Message of Sympathy to Syrian President
  Pyongyang, September 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of sympathy to Syrian President Bashar Al?Assad on Sept. 29 in connection with the terrorist bomb blast that occurred in Damascus recently, killing or wounding many innocent people. Kim in the message expressed deep sympathy and condolences to the president, the government and people of Syria and the victims and the bereaved families of the dead. � The Democratic People's Republic of Korea government, which opposes all forms of terrorism and any support to it, vehemently denounces the bomb blast as a hateful terrorist act to disturb the security and stability of Syria, the message said.

• Diplomatic Relations Established between DPRK and Kenya
  Pyongyang, September 28 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on establishing diplomatic relations between the governments of the DPRK and the Republic of Kenya was published in New York on September 26. According to it, the governments of the DPRK and the Republic of Kenya decided to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level from the day of signing the joint communique, in conformity with the principle and goal of the U.N. Charter, international law, the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations signed in 1961 and the Vienna convention on consular relations signed in 1963, proceeding from the desire to promote and strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries on the principles of mutual respect for equality, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs of states. Authorized by the governments of their countries Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, from the DPRK side and Moses M. Wetangula, minister of Foreign Affairs, from the Kenyan side signed the joint communique.
• Protocols Signed between Governments of DPRK and Cuba
  Pyongyang, September 26 (KCNA) -- A protocol on the 27th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Economic and Scientific and Technological Consultative Committee and a protocol on the exchange of goods for 2009 were signed between the DPRK and Cuba with due ceremony here on Sept. 26. Present there from the DPRK side were Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, and officials concerned and from the Cuban side members of the Cuban government economic delegation headed by Jose Manuel Galego Montano, Cuban ambassador to the DPRK. They were signed by the minister and the ambassador.
• Kim Il Chol Meets Delegation of VPA
  Pyongyang, September 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, Wednesday met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of senior political officers of the Vietnam People's Army led by Le Van Dung, secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and head of the VPA General Political Department. Present there were Col. General of the Korean People's Army Sim Sang Dae and Le Van Cu, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK, and Dau Xuan Long, military attache of the embassy.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets UNESCO Director-General and His Party
  Pyongyang, September 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with Koitsiro Matsuura, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and his party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Friday. On hand was Pak Kil Yon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.

• Non-Aligned Movement gives North and South equal attention
  August 01, 2008 Member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement that convened in Iran for an annual conference chose a closing statement that buttressed concerns of both Seoul and Pyongyang. Seoul diplomats have been working hard to have their position equally reflected in the statement along with that of Pyongyang, after diplomatic embarrassments at the Asean Regional Forum in Singapore last week. NAM, a group of 118 countries that seeks to look out for the interests of developing countries, had an annual conference in Tehran last week and released the statement on Wednesday night. It said that NAM member countries support all inter-Korean joint declarations as well as other agreements signed in the six-party talks seeking to denuclearize the North.
• Iranian President on Relations with DPRK
  Pyongyang, July 31 (KCNA) -- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian President, met and had a friendly talk in Tehran on July 29 with the DPRK delegation headed by Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun to the conference of foreign ministers of non-aligned countries. Saying that Iran and the DPRK are countries fighting against the U.S. imperialists, the Iranian president sincerely hoped that the Korean people would achieve greater success in the anti-U.S. struggle. He expressed the belief that the relations between the two countries would grow stronger in the future, too.
• Talks Held between DPRK and Iranian Foreign Ministers
  �� Pyongyang, July 30 (KCNA) -- Talks between Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun who is heading the DPRK delegation to the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Countries and Manouchehr Mottaki, foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, were held in Tehran on July 28. ��� Present there from the DPRK side were members of the delegation and the DPRK ambassador to Iran and from the Iranian side officials concerned of the Foreign Ministry. ��� At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the relations between the two countries and a series of matters of common concern.

• North seeking diplomatic support
  July 30, 2008 Pyongyang is poised to take its months-long demand that Seoul respect the principles of last October�s inter-Korean joint declaration to the international community. North Korea, which managed to present its position during the Asean Regional Forum in Singapore last week, is now pushing the agenda at the annual meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement being held this week in Iran. NAM, with 118 member countries, is an international organization of nations considering themselves not formally aligned with or against a major power bloc. Pyongyang�s move is likely to put Seoul in a politically delicate position; it has to prove it supports the inter-Korean declaration and that the North, not the South, does not. {NAM] �
• Korea's Reunification Supported
  Pyongyang, July 29 (KCNA) -- Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the C.C., the Communist Party of Vietnam, met and had a friendly talk with a DPRK delegation led by Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on a visit to Vietnam at the building of the Party Central Committee on July 26. The general secretary stated that it is the steadfast stand of the Vietnamese party and government to value and further develop the friendly relations between the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and President Ho Chi Minh.
• Koreas in Diplomatic Showdown in Tehran
  By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter South and North Korea are in for another bout of diplomatic maneuvering at this week's international conference in Teheran, following a showdown at a regional security forum in Singapore last week. At issue is the Oct. 4 Summit Declaration signed under the previous, liberal South Korean government, which the conservative Lee Myung-bak administration is reluctant to inherit. North Korea has urged the Lee government to ``honor'' the agreements made at the summit between former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang last year.
  outh Korea is a guest to the NAM, a group of states considering themselves not formally aligned with any major power bloc, while North Korea is a full member. [NAM]
• Lee�s N. Korea policy criticized at ASEAN Regional Forum
  Foreign ministers support continuation of inter-Korean dialogue and implementation of summit agreement
  � � � Foreign affairs and security experts who are working on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations� Regional Forum in Singapore, a stage for multilateral diplomacy, have pointed out that the administration of President Lee Myung-bak needs to reshape its policy on North Korea by clarifying that it will implement two summit accords with the North, the June 15 Joint Declaration and the October 4 Summit Declaration. Providing evidence that the international community has raised the issue of the North Korean policy by the South Korean government, the experts cited a statement issued by foreign ministers of 27 nations participating in the regional security forum that �expressed strong support for continued development of inter-Korean dialogue based on the October 4 Summit Declaration.� �[SN NK policy]
• South, North Korea tie ARF in a diplomatic knot
  July 26, 2008 A bizarre diplomatic twist took place yesterday that mirrors the turbulent nature of inter-Korean relations. It began Thursday when Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, who is also chairman of the Asean Regional Forum, released a statement in Singapore. In a diplomatic blow to South Korea, Yeo said the South�s recent dealings with the North leave room for improvement. ARF members �expressed strong support for continued development of inter-Korean dialogue based on the [Oct. 4] declaration,� Yeo said in a statement. The North has long argued that the Lee Myung-bak administration has ignored the declaration, which was reached by President Roh Moo-hyun, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il last year. South Korea, meanwhile, tried to convince the nations represented at ARF to press Pyongyang to answer questions surrounding the recent killing of a South Korean tourist in the North. During the annual forum, foreign ministers from 10 Asean member nations and 17 other countries expressed concern over the recent shooting, saying they hope �the incident would be resolved expeditiously.� And then came the twist. Unhappy Seoul officials yesterday asked Singapore to delete the part of the statement that called on the South to honor the Oct. 4 declaration. Seoul agreed, in turn, that the sentence that mentions the shooting at Mount Kumgang should also be deleted. The ARF host country has the right to revise the chairman�s statement. �[KR_summit07]
• Singaporean President on Relations with DPRK
  �� Pyongyang, July 25 (KCNA) -- Singaporean President S. R. Nathan met and had a friendly talk with the visiting DPRK delegation headed by Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun at the presidential palace on Wednesday. ��� The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a heritage of President Kim Il Sung, the Singaporean President said, hoping that the Korean people would brilliantly celebrate its 60th birthday. ��� Expressing his pleasure over the favorably developing relations between Singapore and the DPRK, he declared that he would do his best to develop the bilateral relations. �
• North Korea signs on to peace pact
  �Every step we take to encourage North Korea to abide by international norms is a step in the right direction.� July 25, 2008 SINGAPORE ? North Korea signed a non-aggression pact with Southeast Asia yesterday in what officials and analysts said was a sign it wants to be seen as a more responsible international player.
• Congratulations to First President of Nepal
  Pyongyang, July 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, today sent a congratulatory message to Ram Baran Yadav upon his election as the first President of the Republic of Nepal. In the message Kim expressed the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Nepal would continue to develop on good terms and sincerely wished him great success in his noble work for the political stability and prosperity of the country.
• Talks between DPRK and Singaporean Foreign Ministers Held
  Pyongyang, July 23 (KCNA) -- Talks were held between Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister who is heading the DPRK delegation on a visit to Singapore, and George Yong�|Boon Yeo, foreign minister of Singapore, in Singapore on July 22. Present there from the DPRK side were members of the delegation and the DPRK ambassador to Singapore and from the Singaporean side the second permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry and officials concerned of Singapore. At the talks, both sides exchanged views on boosting the relations between the two countries and a series of matters of mutual concern.
• Kim Yong Nam Receives Credentials from Egyptian Ambassador to DPRK
  Pyongyang, July 21 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, received credentials from Ismail Abdelrahman Ghoneim Hussein, Egyptian ambassador to the DPRK, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. On hand were Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and staff members of the Egyptian embassy here. After receiving the credentials, Kim had a talk with the ambassador.
• Ban Urges NK to Improve Human Rights
  President Lee Myung-bak, right, shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before their meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. Ban Arrived in South Korea, Thursday for a five day visit. / Yonhap By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged North Korea Friday to address its human rights situation, calling it ``unacceptable.'' ``I think that North Korea should also take necessary steps to improve their human rights situation,'' Ban, who is on a visit to his homeland for the first time since taking office at the United Nations 18 months ago, said in a press conference in Seoul. ``There are still many areas where human rights are not properly protected, and even abused,'' said Ban, who served as South Korean foreign minister between 2004 and 2006. ``This is an unacceptable situation.''
• Choe Thae Bok Meets Vietnamese Delegation
  Pyongyang, June 27 (KCNA) -- Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Parliamentary Group led by its Chairman Ksor Phuoc who is also chairman of the National Council of the Vietnamese National Assembly, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Friday. Present there were Kim Wan Su, chairman of the Korea-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group, and Le Van Cu, Vietnamese ambassador to the DPRK.
• Message of Greetings to 11th Ordinary Session of Assembly of Heads of State and Government of AU
  Pyongyang, June 30 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Monday sent a message of greetings to the 11th ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government of the AU in connection with its opening in Egypt. Kim in the message extended on behalf of the DPRK government warm congratulations and salute to all heads of state and government and delegates participating in the session, noting that the AU has achieved great successes in its work to achieve peace, stability and socio-economic development of the continent and boost the unity and cooperation among its member states while rapidly raising its position and role. The message extended full support and solidarity to the efforts of the African governments and people to build an independent, peaceful and prosperous continent, reiterating the will of the DPRK government and people to steadily boost the traditional friendly and cooperative relations with the AU and its member states. Expressing belief that this session will mark an important occasion in achieving lasting peace and security in Africa and promoting the politico- economic integration of the continent, the message sincerely hoped that the African people would make shining success in line with their desire and wishes.

• Talks between DPRK and Vietnamese Delegations
  Pyongyang, June 24 (KCNA) -- Talks were held between the delegations of the Korea-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group and the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Parliamentary Group at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there from the DPRK side were members of the Korea-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group led by its Chairman Kim Wan Su and from the opposite side members of the Vietnam-Korea Friendship Parliamentary Group led by its Chairman Ksor Phuoc who is also chairman of the National Council of the Vietnamese National Assembly and Vietnamese Ambassador Le Van Cu to the DPRK. At the talks both sides exchanged views on further developing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parliaments and a series of matters of mutual concern.
• Agreement Signed between DPRK and Laos
  Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- An agreement on the formation of the joint information committee between the Information Committee of the DPRK and the Ministry of Information and Culture of Laos was signed in Vientiane on Wednesday. Attending at the signing ceremony were the members of the delegation of the Information Committee of the DPRK headed by its Chairman Kang Nung Su who is minister of Culture and the DPRK ambassador to Laos from the DPRK side and Mounkeo Oraboun, minister of Information and Culture, and officials concerned from the Lao side. The agreement was inked by Kang Nung Su and Mounkeo Oraboun
• Greetings to President of Philippines
  Pyongyang, June 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on June 3 on the occasion of the 110th independence anniversary of the country. Kim in the message sincerely wished the president greater success in her work for political stability and economic progress of the country. Saying that it is the consistent stand of the DPRK government to give importance and positively develop the relations with Philippines and other Asian countries which are geographically close to the DPRK, he expressed belief that the DPRK-Philippine friendly and cooperative relations developing on good terms at present would grow stronger by their joint efforts.
• North Korea says it's opposed to terrorism
  The Associated Press Tuesday, June 10, 2008; 2:58 AM SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea has reiterated its opposition to terrorism and nuclear proliferation in an apparent attempt to bolster its bid for removal from a U.S. blacklist. The North's Foreign Ministry says in a statement released Tuesday that the country "will firmly maintain its consistent stand of opposing all forms of terrorism." The ministry also says the North will take part in international efforts to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into terrorists' hands.
• Greetings to Swedish King
  Pyongyang, June 6 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Carl Gustaf, King of Sweden, on the occasion of its national day. Kim in the message sincerely wished the king good health and happiness and the Swedish people prosperity.
• Kim Jong Il Sends Congratulatory Message to Raul Castro Ruz
  Pyongyang, June 3 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Tuesday sent together with Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, a congratulatory message to Raul Castro Ruz, second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba on the latter's 77th birthday. The message says: We extend warm congratulations and comradely salute to you on your 77th birthday. Availing ourselves of this opportunity, we express the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of the two countries based on the revolutionary principle will continue to grow stronger and sincerely wish you good health and happiness as well as greater success in your responsible work for protecting the socialist gains and promoting the well-being of the people.

• S. Korea�s role in a balanced foreign policy
  [Editorial] � President Lee Myung-bak goes to China for a summit meeting with Chinese leader Hu Jintao today. It is part of his plan to get the framework for relations with the "four powers" (the United States, Russia, Japan and China) up and running early in his government. � According to Blue House officials, the two countries plan to agree on elevating bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership." The official explanation is that a strategic partnership with China means that Seoul and Beijing are going to cooperate closely on peninsular, regional and global issues. If so, that means that relations are rising to a level of "global management" that excludes only military affairs. There is no reason this in itself should be considered something negative. The question, though, is whether that can be harmonized with the "strategic alliance" Seoul and Washington have declared. At a time when it would be hard for the national interests of the United States and China to always be in agreement, tilting excessively to one side would mean cooperation with the other could easily hurt the cooperation. If there is going to be a higher-level of relations with China, see, there needs to be a sustained desire to achieve balance in diplomacy. Countries like China and Russia suspect that since Lee�s inauguration, Korea is leaning towards the old triangular Cold War-style alliance starring Korea, Japan and the United States. This summit meeting needs to be a time for washing away those concerns.
• Korea, 22 Arab States Look to Enhanced Ties
  [Special] Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, fourth from left, poses with dignitaries from Arabian countries during the Korea-Arab Society�s inaugural conference at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, Monday. They include Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, third from left, and President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, fifth from left. / Yonhap By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter About 200 high-profile figures from the political, business and cultural circles of 22 Arab states gathered in Seoul, Monday, to attend a conference to prepare for the landmark establishment of the Korea-Arab Society (KAS). KAS aims to enhance public understanding of Islamic culture and foster human networks, as well as to explore joint business and investment opportunities in South Korea and the Middle East, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), which hosted the conference. The society is a non-profit organization that is to be officially launched on June 30. [Islam]
• DPRK Foreign Ministry Hails Agreement to Settle Political Crisis in Lebanon
  Pyongyang, May 25 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saturday gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA in connection with the agreement reached to settle the dispute in Lebanon: Some days before, an agreement was reached to settle the dispute among various forces in Lebanon through the mediation of the League of Arab States and Qatar, thus making it possible to defuse the political crisis in Lebanon. The DPRK hails the important agreement reached to settle the political crisis in Lebanon thanks to the positive efforts of the Arab League and various Arab countries. This agreement proves that the Arab people are quite capable of settling their problems by themselves. The DPRK government will as ever positively support the just measures and efforts of the Arab countries and people to settle the Mideast issue.
• Plan on Cultural Exchange between DPRK and Ethiopia Inked
  Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- A 2008-2010 plan on cultural exchange between the DPRK government and the Ethiopian government was signed in Addis Ababa on May 16. The plan was inked by DPRK Ambassador to Ethiopia Ri Song Mok and the minister of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia authorized by the governments of the two countries.
• Rodong Sinmun Calls for Heightened Vigilance against "Liberty" and "Democracy" Touted by Imperialists
  Pyongyang, May 22 (KCNA) -- The world progressive people should not be taken in by "liberty and democracy" of aggressive nature much publicized by the imperialists but wage a dynamic struggle for genuine freedom and democracy. Rodong Sinmun today urges this in a signed article. It is sheer hypocrisy for the imperialists to claim that a capitalist society is a "free world" allegedly giving people all sorts of freedom, the article notes, and goes on: This is nothing but a foolish attempt to keep mankind from longing for socialism and create illusion about capitalism among people in a bid to westernize the world. The imperialists' loudmouthed "liberty and democracy" is a slogan for aggression and interference to realize their ambition for world domination.
• Kim Yong Nam Greets Eritrean President
  Pyongyang, May 23 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Issaias Afewerki, President of Eritrea, on May 23 on the occasion of its independence day. Kim in the message expressed the belief that the bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation would grow stronger in the common interests of the two peoples and sincerely wished the president and people of Eritrea greater success in their future work.
• Taking the First Footsteps on the 21st Century Silk Road
  There is something I always stress when meeting people from the Middle East as a diplomat -- the fact that exchange has been taking place between the Korean peninsula and the Middle East via the Silk Road since a thousand years ago. Considering the knowledge of geography and the means of transportation back then, this sort of exchange is simply amazing. This trade lasted until the early Chosun Dynasty, then
  The launch of the Korea-Arab Society is both a move toward the formation of a new partnership between Korea and the Middle East, as well as a move to instill a proper awareness of the region in our society. Now, Korea and the Arab world have embarked on a long journey on the 21st Century Silk Road to meet an old friend. Through this opportunity, it is our hope that a new interest will take off in Korea in getting to know the Arab world properly. The column was contributed by Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan [Islam]
• Reception Given by Singaporean FM
  Pyongyang, May 14 (KCNA) -- Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo on a visit to the DPRK hosted a reception at Yanggakdo International Hotel on Tuesday. Present on invitation were Minister Pak Ui Chun and Vice-Minister Kim Yong Il of Foreign Affairs and officials concerned of the DPRK. Speeches were made there.
• Week of DPRK-Iran Friendship Observed
  Pyongyang, May 13 (KCNA) -- A meeting and a film show were held at the Chollima House of Culture on Tuesday on the occasion of the week of the DPRK-Iran friendship. Present there on invitation were Morteza Moradian, Iranian ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy officials.
  Morteza Moradian said that the friendly relations between the two countries are further developing under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries with each passing day. Iran and the DPRK always stand together on the anti-imperialist front, he said, adding that his country extends full support to the Korean people in the efforts to build a great prosperous powerful nation and achieve the reunification of the country.
• DPRK, Singapore Cooperate
  Pyongyang, May 12 (KCNA) -- An agreement on the cooperation between the foreign ministries of the DPRK and Singapore was signed at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Monday. Present there from the DPRK side were Minister Pak Ui Chun and Vice-Minister Kim Yong Il and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the opposite side Foreign Minister George Yong-Boon Yeo and his party. The agreement was inked by Pak Ui Chun and George Yong-Boon Yeo.
• Firm Adherence to Stand of National Independence Called for
  Pyongyang, May 12 (KCNA) -- The present era calls for settling all issues from an independent and patriotic stand while giving overriding importance to the country and the nation. Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in a signed article. Such practices as putting foreign forces above the nation and regarding cooperation with foreign forces more important than that with fellow countrymen are being reported from south Korea quite contrary to the trend of the times, the article notes, and goes on: The Koreans have not yet established national sovereignty throughout Korea due to the U.S. colonial enslavement policy toward south Korea and its moves to keep south Korea as its military base and the sycophantic and traitorous politics and the policy of depending on outside forces pursued by the successive south Korean ruling forces, its lackeys. In order to establish national sovereignty throughout Korea and fully exalt the dignity and honor of the nation it is necessary for it to hold high the banner of national independence. [Independent states]
• DPRK FM Meets Singaporean FM
  Pyongyang, May 10 (KCNA) -- Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, met and had a talk with George Yong-Boon Yeo, Singaporean foreign minister, and his party who paid a courtesy call on him at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Saturday.
• Message of Sympathy to Chairman of Myanmar State Peace and Development Council
  Pyongyang, May 7 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Tuesday sent a message of sympathy to General Than Shwe, chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council, in connection with tropical storm that hit the country, claiming big casualties and material losses. Kim in the message expressed deep consolation and sympathy to him and, through him, to the victims, hoping that he and the Myanmar government would eradicate the aftermath of the natural disaster as early as possible.
• DPRK's Will to Boost Regional Cooperation Expressed
  Pyongyang, May 5 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government will further boost cooperation with regional countries in achieving the millennium development objective through its efforts for the development of the national economy and the improvement of the standard of people's living in the future, too. The head of the DPRK delegation declared this stand when addressing the 64th general meeting of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific held in Thailand from April 23 to 30. Referring to the achievements made by the commission last year, he said that if the Asia-Pacific region is to steadily maintain its position as a region propelling the world economic development in conformity with the present changed circumstances, it is necessary to decide on more concrete strategy and plan and take practical measures for promoting the sustained economic and social development.

• DPRK's Determination to Build Great Prosperous Powerful Nation Manifested
  Pyongyang, April 23 (KCNA) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea will frustrate any enemy provocations and surely build a great prosperous powerful nation, in which the people will lead a happy life with nothing to desire more in the world, as all its people are single-mindedly united around General Secretary Kim Jong Il and it has powerful defence capability provided by dint of the Songun politics. Choe Thae Bok, chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly who is leading its delegation, said this when addressing the plenary session of the 118th Conference of the IPU held in South Africa on April 14. He went on: The DPRK is waging a dynamic drive after singling it out as its main tasks to build an economic power and bring about a substantial turn in improving the people's standard of living in hearty response to the people's living-first policy this year marking its 60th birthday.
• Syrian Party School Delegation Here
  Pyongyang, April 21 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the school of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party led by Riad Youness, deputy of the director of the school, arrived here on Monday.
• SPA Delegation Leaves to Participate in IPU Conference
  Pyongyang, April 10 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK headed by its Chairman Choe Thae Bok left here today to participate in the 118th Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to be held in South Africa. It was seen off at the airport by Choe Yong Rim, secretary general of the Presidium of the SPA, and Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.
• DPRK Delegation Leaves for 12th Meeting of UNCTAD
  Pyongyang, April 17 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegation led by Ri Myong San, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, left here today to participate in the 12th meeting of the UN Conference on Trade and Development to be held in Accra, Ghana.
• Agreement Signed between DPRK and Mexico
  Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- An agreement on educational and cultural cooperation between the governments of the DPRK and Mexico was inked in Mexico on April 14. Present at the signing ceremony were a delegation of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries led by its Acting Chairman Mun Jae Chol and DPRK Ambassador to Mexico So Jae Myong from the DPRK side and Alberto Fierro Garza, general director for Culture of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other officials concerned from the Mexican side.
• DPRK Permanent Representative at UN Appointed
  Pyongyang, April 7 (KCNA) -- Sin Son Ho was appointed as the DPRK permanent representative at the United Nations, according to a decree of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly.
• Kim Yong Nam Flies back
  Pyongyang, April 1 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, returned home on Tuesday by special plane after wrapping up his official goodwill visit to Namibia, Angola, Democratic Congo and Uganda. Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health, and other suite members flew back together with him. They were greeted at the airport by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the SPA of the DPRK, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Ri Myong San, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, Ri Pong Hun, vice-minister of Public Health, and Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK.

• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Kampala
  Kampala, March 27 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, arrived in Kampala on March 27 to pay an official goodwill visit to Uganda.
• NKorea Rejects UN Rights Resolution
  The Associated Press Saturday, March 29, 2008; 6:54 AM SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea on Saturday rejected a recent U.N. resolution condemning its human rights abuses as a U.S.-led political plot, warning the U.S., the European Union and Japan of "unpredictable consequences" for leading the move. The North's Foreign Ministry issued the harsh warning, labeling the resolution _ passed at the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday _ as a "politically motivated document" that is "full of sheer lies and fabrications." [Manipulation]
• U.N. Renews North Korea Rights Investigator's Mandate
  By REUTERS Published: March 27, 2008 Filed at 2:05 p.m. ET GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday renewed the one-year mandate of its investigator for North Korea, overcoming objections from countries including China and Russia which wanted the post abolished. The 47 member-state body adopted a resolution presented by Japan and the European Union in a vote of 22 countries in favor and seven against, with 18 abstentions. South Korea, which had abstained in previous years, voted in favor. � [Manipulation] [Double standards] [USUN]
• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Kinshasa
  Kinshasa, March 26 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, arrived here on Wednesday to pay an official goodwill visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Ui Chun, Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, Minister of Public Health Choe Chang Sik and others. Kim Yong Nam and his party were greeted at the airport by Godefroid Mayobo Mpwene Ngantien, minister in charge of the prime minister's Office, Marcelin Chisambo, special advisor to the president on political and foreign affairs, and officials concerned. Kim Yong Nam was presented with a bunch of flowers by a child. He announced an arrival statement.
• Joint Document on Kim Yong Nam's Angolan Visit Signed
  Luanda, March 25 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Joint document on official good-will visit to Angola by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, were signed in Luanda on Tuesday. Present there from the DPRK side were Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Ui Chun, Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, Minister of Public Health Choe Chang Sik and DPRK Ambassador to Angola Ri Won Son and from the Angolan side were Foreign Minister Joao Bernardo De Miranda, Minister of Foreign Trade Joaquim Icuma Muafumba, Minister of Health Anastacio Ruben Sicatu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Pedro Canga, Minister of Science and Technology Joao Baptista Ngandagina and Angolan Ambassador to the DPRK Joao Manuel Bernardo. Pak Ui Chun and Joao Bernardo De Miranda signed the joint document.
• Yang Hyong Sop Meets Brazilian Delegation
  Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with a delegation of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry headed by Undersecretary General Roberto Jaguaribe at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Wednesday.
• Talks between President of DPRK SPA Presidium and President of Angola
  �� Luanda, March 24 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Talks were held between Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, President of the Republic of Angola, at the presidential palace on Monday. ��� At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries as required by the new century and matters of mutual concern. ��� The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere. ��� Present there were Pak Ui Chun, minister of Foreign Affairs, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health, and Ri Won Son, DPRK ambassador to Angola. ��� On hand were Joao Bernardo De Miranda, foreign minister, Carlos�@Fonseca, diplomatic advisor to the president, and Joao Manuel Bernardo, Angolan ambassador to the DPRK.
• DPRK-Namibia Joint Communique Released
  Windhoek, March 23 (KCNA Correspondent) -- A joint communique on the official goodwill visit to Namibia paid by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, was issued in Windhoek on March 23. According to it, Kim Yong Nam paid an official goodwill visit to Namibia from March 20 to 23 at the invitation of Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba. During the visit, Kim Yong Nam had talks with the Namibian president and met and had a conversation with the first Namibian president Sam Nujoma.
• Yong Nam Arrives in Luanda
  Luanda, March 23 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, arrived in Luanda on March 23 to pay an official goodwill visit to the Republic of Angola. He was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Ui Chun, Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, Minister of Public Health Choe Chang Sik and others. Kim Yong Nam and his party were greeted at the airport by Angola's Foreign Minister Joao Bernardo De Miranda, Minister of Foreign Trade Joaquim Icuma Muafumba, Minister of Health Anastacio Ruben Sicatu, officials concerned and DPRK Ambassador to Angola Ri Won Son.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Former President of Namibia
  Windhoek, March 22 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met Sam Nujoma, former president of Namibia, who paid a courtesy call on him on Saturday. Sam Nujoma said that he was grateful for the positive support and encouragement given by the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government to the struggle of the Namibian people for national liberation and the building of a new society, true to the high intention of President Kim Il Sung. �
• NK Ties With Africa
  Pyongyang Seeks to Export More Arms, Workers South Korean officials are paying attention to North Korea's move to intensify diplomatic activities in Africa. Kim Yong-nam, the second-highest ranking official in the North, is now on an 11-day visit to four African countries, leading a 24-member delegation. Press reports said that Kim originally planned to visit three countries ? Namibia, Angola and Uganda. But he added the Democratic Republic of Congo to his itinerary.
• N. Korea, Namibia reach deals
  North Korea agreed Friday to cooperate in health and medicine with Namibia while reaching a preliminary deal on "diplomatic negotiations" with the world's fifth-largest uranium producer, Pyongyang's official media reported. [Media]
• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Windhoek
  Windhoek, March 20 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, arrived in Windhoek on Thursday to pay an official goodwill visit to Namibia. Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Ui Chun, Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, Minister of Public Health Choe Chang Sik and other suite members arrived there together with Kim. Kim and his party were greeted at the airport by Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia, Nahas Angula, prime minister, Libertina Amasila, deputy prime minister, Marco Hausiku, foreign minister, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, minister of Trade and Industry, Richad Kamwi, minister of Health and Social Service, and other members of the government, Leonard Nambahu, Namibian ambassador to the DPRK, the commander of armed forces, the inspector general of police, figures from all walks of life, diplomatic envoys of different countries and representatives of international organizations in Namibia. A welcome function took place at the airport. Citizens of Windhoek welcomed Kim and his entourage at the airport, waving flags of the two countries and dancing to the tunes of folk songs.
• Agreement and MOU Signed between DPRK and Namibia
  Windhoek, March 20 (KCNA Correspondent) -- An inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the fields of public health and traditional medicine between the DPRK and Namibia and a MOU on diplomatic negotiations between the two foreign ministries were signed here on Thursday. Present at the signing ceremony from the DPRK side were Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Pak Ui Chun, foreign minister, Ri Ryong Nam, minister of Foreign Trade, Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health, and An Hui Jong, DPRK ambassador to Namibia. Present from the Namibian side were Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia, Marco Hausiku, foreign minister, Charles D. N. P. Namoloh, minister of Defence, Immanuel Ngatjizeko, minister of Trade and Industry, Richad Kamwi, minister of Health and Social Service, Joel Kaapanda, minister of Construction, Transport and Tele-Communications, Nangolo Mbumba, minister of Education, John Mutorwa, minister of Youth, National Service, Sports and Culture, and Leonard Nambahu, Namibian ambassador to the DPRK. Choe Chang Sik and Richad Kamwi signed the agreement and Pak Ui Chun and Marco Hausiku inked the MOU.
• WPK Delegation to Visit India and Iran
  Pyongyang, March 20 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Workers' Party of Korea led by Vice Department Director of its Central Committee Ri Yong Su left here today to participate in the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of India and the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The delegation will also visit Iran.
• North Korea's No. 2 on African Tour
  By REUTERS Published: March 20, 2008 Filed at 4:39 p.m. ET Skip to next paragraph WINDHOEK (Reuters) - North Korea's number two leader on Thursday started a three-country African tour in Namibia, a leading uranium producer with longstanding ties to the reclusive communist state. Kim Yong-nam, president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, will officially open Namibia's new North Korean-built presidential residence and discuss trade and political relations, Namibian officials said [Media]
• N.Korean Envoy to UN Recalled
  North Korea�s Ambassador to the UN Pak Gil-yon will be replaced in April, it emerged on Wednesday. A South Korean government official said, "I understand that Ambassador Pak will return to North Korea soon. It doesn't seem likely that he is leaving his post for health reasons." Pak (65) has worked in the international arena for 12 years, serving two terms, from 1991 to 1996 and from 2001 until this year. He spoke for North Korea at the UN during the first North Korean nuclear crisis in 1993, during the second nuclear crisis in 2002, and in 2006 when North Korean conducted a nuclear test. He was also deeply involved in talks with the U.S. One of the people mentioned as his possible replacement is Shin Seon-ho, former deputy chief of the North Korean mission to the UN.
• DPRK Delegate Calls on UNSC to Give Developing Countries Representation
  Pyongyang, March 7 (KCNA) -- The United Nations Security Council should be reformed in such a way as to give full representation to the developing countries which make up a majority of the UN member states and ensure the impartiality of its activities. A DPRK delegate said this in his speech at the meeting of the Special Committee on the UN Charter and on Increasing the Role of the Organization opened in New York on Feb. 27. The principles of respect for sovereignty, equality and non-interference in internal affairs laid down in the UN Charter are still wantonly violated in the international relations and the UNSC's breach of the authority of the UN General Assembly, in particular, is arousing concern among the member states, he noted, referring to a series of issues related to this. [Imperialism]
• DPRK Delegate Calls for Substantial Measures against Terrorism
  Pyongyang, March 4 (KCNA) -- The DPRK delegate, addressing the meeting of the special committee on international terrorism that opened in New York on Feb. 25, noted that it is impossible to guarantee not only the peace and security of the world but elementary rights of the human beings unless the state-sponsored terrorism is eradicated, calling on the UN to take substantial measures to combat terrorism. He said: The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and the Israeli occupation of Arab territories have caused a vicious cycle of terrorism and horrible bloodshed as they are typical state-sponsored terrorism. These actions are spawning serious issues as they are designed to overthrow legitimate governments, but what is graver is that they are most hideous human rights abuses as they cause mass killings of civilians and a sharp increase in the number of refugees. He expressed the expectation that the UN-sponsored high-level meeting on terrorism would have a package discussion on the issue of terrorism and contribute to seeking more effective ways of combating it. Noting that the DPRK has maintained its avowed stand of opposing all forms of terrorist actions and any form of supporting it, he said that the government of the DPRK would positively contribute to the efforts of the international community to root out terrorism and build a peaceful and stable world in the future, too.

• Kim Jong Il Sends Congratulatory Message to Raul Castro Ruz
  Pyongyang, February 26 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Monday sent a congratulatory message to Raul Castro Ruz, second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba. The message said: We extend warm congratulations to you in the name of the Workers' Party of Korea, the government and people of the DPRK on your election as president of the Council of State and president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba at the first session of the 7th National Assembly of People's Power. The above-said heavy responsibilities entrusted to you are an expression of the deep trust and high expectation of respected Fidel Castro and the Cuban party and people for you. Believing that the comradely and militant friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of the two countries provided by President Kim Il Sung and Fidel Castro would steadily grow stronger in the course of carrying out the common cause of socialism, the message sincerely wished him success in his responsible work.
• FM Spokesman Interviewed
  Pyongyang, February 23 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA Saturday as regards the intention expressed by Fidel Castro Ruz, supreme Leader of the Cuban revolution, to resign from some of his duties: Fidel Castro has recently expressed his intention to resign from such duties as president of the Council of State and supreme commander of the armed forces of Cuba. He was operated and treated for acute intestinal bleeding in July 2006 but he has not been fully recovered. He forged particularly comradely relations with President Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people, and has since made many contributions to the development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Cuba in the past period.

• Korea Denies Entry to Thais Most
  By Kang Shin-who Staff Reporter Korea denied entry to the country to Thai nationals the most last year. Of 86,358 Thais who sought to come to Korea last year, 6,767 were refused entry, according to the Korea Immigration Service. Following Thais were Chinese with 3,481, Mongolians, 1,667 and Bangladeshis, 834. Immigration officials said that most of the entries were refused due to concerns about illegal residency.
• Rodong Sinmun on DPRK's Avowed Foreign Policy Tenet
  Pyongyang, January 18 (KCNA) -- It is the consistent stand and foreign policy of the DPRK to establish and develop relations of friendship, cooperation and good neighborliness with all countries that respect the sovereignty of the DPRK and are friendly towards it, says Rodong Sinmun Friday in a signed article. Independence, peace and friendship are the idea of the consistent foreign policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK, the article says, and goes on: The present times are the era of independence. What people want is independence, not subjugation, peace, not war, and friendship, not confrontation. Each country has the right to defend its independence and, at the same time, an obligation to respect the independence of other countries. Only when countries support and unite with each other on the principle of full independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in other's internal affairs can the relations of friendship and cooperation be genuine and strong. [Independent states]
• Rodong Sinmun on Foreign Policy of DPRK
  Pyongyang, January 7 (KCNA) -- It is the invariable stand of the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK to consistently embody the idea of the foreign policy -- independence, peace and friendship, observes Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article. Independence, peace and friendship represent the basic idea of the foreign policy of the WPK and the government of the DPRK, the article notes, and goes on: The idea of their independent foreign policy most fully meets the intrinsic wishes of the human beings to live and develop independently. Without an independent stand, people cannot properly advance the revolution and construction and achieve final victory. The DPRK never allows anyone to infringe upon its sovereignty, meddle in its internal affairs, dominate and control it. It is opposed to any act of violating the sovereignty of any other country. It estimates and handles anything arising in the relations with other countries and all other issues with independence as a yardstick and resolutely struggles against the infringement upon independence. The above-said idea of the peace-loving foreign policy represents the desire of the people to live in a peaceful world free from war. People can successfully promote national prosperity and the building of an independent new society only in a peaceful environment. Peace cannot be achieved by the effort of an individual country and people alone. Mankind's desire for peace can come true only when the peace-loving progressive people get united and wage a dynamic struggle for defending peace from war. The above-mentioned idea of the foreign policy presupposes boosting the friendly and cooperative ties with all countries and people of the world. It is the avowed foreign policy of the DPRK to develop the friendly and cooperative relations with all the countries of the world advocating independence. The DPRK will make every effort to establish sound international relations and order as a member of the international community. [Independent states]
• Rodong Sinmun on Trend of Times toward Global Independence
  Pyongyang, December 27 (KCNA) -- There may be turns and twists in the way of the advance of history but the main direction of the development of history can never change and no force on earth can stem the trend of the world toward independence. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article. It goes on: This year the world progressive countries and people have waged a worldwide vigorous struggle against the imperialists' military intervention and war, domination and subjugation and for global independence under the banner of independence against imperialism. What drew public attention in the international arena this year was that the movement of the developing countries has been noticeably intensified to resolutely counter the unilateral high-handed and arbitrary practices of the imperialists contrary to the trend of the times by their concerted efforts. [Independent States]
• Kim Yong Nam Sends Message of Condolences to Pakistani President
  Pyongyang, December 29 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of condolences to Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan, on Friday over the sudden demise of Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan. In the message Kim expressed deep condolences to the Pakistani president and, through him, to the bereaved family members.

• Rodong Sinmun on Idea of Foreign Policy of WPK and DPRK Government
  Pyongyang, November 26 (KCNA) -- Independence, peace and friendship are the idea of the foreign policy of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK government. It is the most just idea as it helps strengthen the international solidarity and make a positive contribution to the cause of global independence. Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in a signed article. The WPK and the DPRK government have firmly upheld and consistently adhered to the idea of independence, peace and friendship, thus dealing a heavy blow at the imperialist forces keen to maintain their outdated international order, the article says, and goes on:
• Maritime Security and Protection of Sea Environment Called for
  Pyongyang, November 25 (KCNA) -- The head of the DPRK delegation, addressing the 25th general assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on November 20, called for ensuring the maritime security and protecting the sea environment. He recalled that the IMO adopted new favorable conventions and regulations and amended the existing ones in the field of overall maritime work including maritime security and protection of sea environment and has taken proper measures to implement them, thus consistently pursuing its goal to ensure safe navigation in clean oceans and boost its efficiency.
• Kim Jong-il 'Accepts Invitation to Vietnam'
  North Korean leader Kim Jong-il told the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh, who was on a visit to Pyongyang in mid-October, that he wants to visit Hanoi next year, Japan�s Kyodo news agency reported Saturday. Kyodo quoted a senior Vietnamese official who was in the meeting as saying Kim "is seriously considering a visit to Vietnam." The official said Kim, who has an aversion to flying, will go via the trans-Chinese railway. "North Korean officials asked us to keep everything, including Chairman Kim's itinerary, secret if his visit to Vietnam materializes at all, and to announce his visit only after his departure for Vietnam," he added.
• MOU Signed between Pyongyang and Jakarta
  Pyongyang, November 10 (KCNA) -- A memorandum of understanding on establishing the sister city relations between Pyongyang of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Jakarta of the Republic of Indonesia was signed in Jakarta on Thursday. The MOU was inked by Vice-Chairman of the Pyongyang City People's Committee Kim Jong Sik and the mayor of Jakarta.
• Inter-Sector Talks Held between DPRK and Vietnam
  Hanoi, October 27 (KCNA-Correspondent) -- Inter-sector talks between the DPRK and Vietnam took place in Hanoi on Oct. 27. The talks were separately held between Minister of Agriculture Ri Kyong Sik and Cao Duc Phat, minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and between Acting Chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae Chol and Hoang Tuan Anh, minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. At the talks both sides exchanged views on boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in different fields as desired by the two peoples and issues of mutual concern. The talks proceeded in a friendship atmosphere.
• Premier of DPRK Cabinet Returns
  Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Il, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, Wednesday returned home by special plane after winding up his official goodwill visit to Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. Rim Kyong Man, minister of Foreign Trade, Ri Kyong Sik, minister of Agriculture, Mun Jae Chol, acting chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, and Kim Yong Il, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, also flew back home. They were greeted at the airport by Ro Tu Chol, vice-premier, Kang Nung Su, minister of Culture, Choe Su Hon, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Ku Pon Thae, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, and diplomatic envoys of Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos here.
• DPRK to Make Positive Contribution to Worldwide Protection and Promotion of Human Rights
  Pyongyang, November 7 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will more firmly defend the advantageous socialist system of Korean style which legally and practically guarantees the people's enjoyment of human rights on the basis of the man-centered Juche idea and make a positive contribution to protecting and promoting human rights worldwide. A DPRK delegate said this when addressing the meeting of the Third Committee handling social, human rights and humanitarian issues of the 62nd UN General Assembly on October 31. There go on the international arena at present unceasing acts of taking the lives of innocent people and violating the rights and basic freedom of people quite contrary to the trend of the times towards peace and stability, he noted, and continued: In order to protect and promote human rights it is necessary to put an end to aggression against sovereign states and interference in their internal affairs and the application of the double standards and selectivity in dealing with human rights issues and eradicate national chauvinism prevalent in the developed countries.

• Two Koreas seeking UN approval on deal
  October 19, 2007 North and South Korea are seeking an endorsement and support from the United Nations for the outcome of their inter-Korean summit held earlier this month, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said yesterday. The two Koreas have submitted to the United Nations a joint resolution calling for international support for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula and also for the agreements South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il reached at their summit held Oct. 2-4, according to ministry officials. � �
• Kim Jong Il Sees Nong Duc Manh Off
  Pyongyang, October 18 (KCNA) -- Nong Duc Manh, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, left here Thursday by a special plane after successfully winding up his official goodwill visit to the DPRK at the invitation of Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. Kim Jong Il saw Nong Duc Manh off at the airport.
• Tete-a-Tete Talks Held between Kim Jong Il and Nong Duc Manh
  Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- Tete-a-tete talks were held between Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, and Nong Duc Manh, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in Pyongyang Wednesday. The talks proceeded in a comradely, sincere and friendly atmosphere.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Foreign Delegation
  Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met with a delegation of the International Kim Il Sung Foundation headed by Chairman Johnny Hon, who is chairman of the Global Group of Britain, and had a friendly talk with it at the Mansudae Assembly Hall Wednesday. Present there were Kwak Pom Gi, vice-premier of the Cabinet, Kim Yong Jin, minister of Education, Rim Hoe Song, vice-chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society, and officials concerned.
• International Kim Il Sung Foundation Established
  Pyongyang, October 17 (KCNA) -- The International Kim Il Sung Foundation was established with due ceremony at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Wednesday. Present there were Vice-President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, Vice-Premier of the DPRK Cabinet Kwak Pom Gi, Minister of Education Kim Yong Jin, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam, President of Koryo Bank Pak Yong Chil, Vice-Chairman of the Korean Social Scientists Society Rim Hoe Song and officials concerned. Also present were members of the delegation of the International Kim Il Sung Foundation headed by Chairman Johnny Hon, who is chairman of the Global Group of Britain. �
• Kim Jong Il Greets Nong Duc Manh
  Pyongyang, October 16 (KCNA) -- Nong Duc Manh, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, arrived in Pyongyang by a special plane on Oct. 16 to pay an official goodwill visit to the DPRK at the invitation of Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission. Kim Jong Il greeted Nong Duc Manh at the Pyongyang Airport. Thousands of Pyongyangites turned out to the airport with flags of the two countries and flowers in their hands to greet the envoys of Vietnam. Present at the airport were Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Il, premier of the Cabinet, Kim Il Chol, minister of the People's Armed Forces, Kim Jong Gak, first vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the SPA Presidium, Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Kang Sok Ju, first vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, leading officials of the party and power organs, ministries and national institutions and Ma Chol Su, DPRK ambassador to Vietnam.
• North Korean PM to Visit Cambodia In November
  By REUTERS Published: October 16, 2007 Filed at 7:46 a.m. ET Skip to next paragraph PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia said on Tuesday that North Korean Prime Minister Kim Jong Il [sic; should be Kim Yong Il's] would pay an official visit at the start of next month, cementing Pyongyang's relationship with a rare friend in southeast Asia. During his November 1 to November 4 trip, Kim will meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and former king Norodom Sihanouk, who formed a close personal relationship with North Korean founding father Kim Il-sung at the height of the Cold War. Sihanouk, whose playboy reputation and royal credentials did not appear to clash with Kim's austere and rigidly communist outlook, still has a palace in Pyongyang and his personal bodyguards are all North Korean agents. A Cambodian government statement gave few other details of Kim Yong Il's visit. Vietnam said earlier this month he would visit Hanoi, but did not say when or why. In March, Hanoi hosted talks aimed at normalizing relations between communist North Korea and Japan.
• Rodong Sinmun on Basic Idea of DPRK's Foreign Policy
  Pyongyang, October 13 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will carry on the revolution and construction in Korean style under the uplifted banner of independence and make a positive contribution to accelerating the global cause of independence, boosting solidarity and cooperation with the world progressives advocating independence. Rodong Sinmun today declares this in a signed article. It goes on:
  Independence is the avowed basic idea of the foreign policy of the DPRK. [Independent states]
• Chairman of SPA Leaves for Italy and Syria
  Pyongyang, October 13 (KCNA) -- Chairman of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly Choe Thae Bok and his party left here on Saturday to visit Italy and Syria.
• FM of DPRK Meets New Thai Ambassador
  Pyongyang, October 11 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun met and had a talk with new Thai Ambassador e.p. to the DPRK Rathakit Manathat who paid a courtesy call on him on Thursday. On hand were officials concerned and Thai embassy officials.
• General Secretary of C.C., CPV to Pay Official Goodwill Visit to DPRK
  Pyongyang, October 9 (KCNA) -- At the invitation of Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will pay an official goodwill visit to the DPRK in the near future.
• DPRK Calls for Building Just and Equal World
  Pyongyang, October 6 (KCNA) -- The DPRK will make positive efforts to build a just and equal world in the idea of independence, peace and friendship in the future, too. Choe Su Hon, head of the DPRK delegation who is vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, declared this in his speech made at the plenary meeting of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly on Oct. 2. Referring to the principled and just and fair stance of the DPRK toward the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and its sincere endeavor to settle the nuclear issue, he noted that the DPRK has no other option but to boost capability for self-defense in every way by enforcing the Songun policy in order to defend the sovereignty and the dignity of the nation from the threat of the preemptive nuclear attack and the harsh economic sanctions of the U.S.
• DPRK Delegation Leaves for Denmark
  Pyongyang, September 29 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the State Maritime Supervision Bureau of the DPRK led by Its Vice-Director Jon Ki Chol left here today to participate in the 83rd meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization to be held in Denmark.

• Diplomatic Ties Established between DPRK and Dominica
  Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on establishing diplomatic ties between the governments of the DPRK and the Dominican Republic was made public in New York on Sept. 24.
• Diplomatic Relations at Ambassadorial Level Established between DPRK and Guatemala
  Pyongyang, September 28 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and the Republic of Guatemala was made public in New York on Sept. 26.
• Diplomatic Ties at Ambassadorial Level Established between DPRK and Kingdom of Swaziland
  Pyongyang, September 22 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the governments of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Swaziland was made public in New York on September 20.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Officials of Syrian Political Party
  Pyongyang, September 22 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with Saaeed Eleia Dawood, director of the Organizational Department of the Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, and his party at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. On hand were officials concerned and the Syrian charge d'affaires ad interim here. Saaeed Eleia Dawood said that the friendly and cooperative ties between Syria and the DPRK provided by President Hafez Al-Assad and President Kim Il Sung, who are always remembered, are growing stronger under the deep care of President Bashar Al-Assad and Kim Jong Il.
• U.N. Chief's Dealings With U.S. Draw Fire
  Ban Sees Himself as a Pragmatist, but Some Critics Say He Is Too Pro-American By Colum Lynch Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, September 24, 2007; Page A14 UNITED NATIONS -- When U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon first approached President Bush at the White House in January to muster support for a U.N. climate-change initiative, the president's response was cool: An impatient Bush reminded Ban that he did not want to restrain U.S. industries, and that past accords unfairly exempted major polluters such as China and India. "He was not that favorably inclined," Ban conceded in an interview last week. But Ban kept at it, cajoling Bush in phone calls and meetings, urging him to at least attend a dinner with other world leaders to discuss the issue. Finally, Bush relented. "I'll be there, I'll be there," he reassured Ban in a phone conversation earlier this month. The dinner will be held Monday. [Ban Ki-moon] [UNUS]
• Talks Held between WPK and Syrian Political Party
  Pyongyang, September 21 (KCNA) -- Talks were held between Choe Thae Bok, secretary of the C.C., the Workers' Party of Korea, and Saaeed Eleia Dawood, director of the Organizational Department of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, on September 21. Present at the talks were officials concerned from the DPRK side and the director's party and the Syrian charge d'affaires ad interim here from the Syrian side. At the talks both sides informed each other of activities of their parties and exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly and cooperative ties between the two parties and a series of issues of bilateral interest. The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.
• Diplomatic Ties at Ambassadorial Level Established between DPRK and United Arab Emirates
  Pyongyang, September 20 (KCNA) -- A joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the governments of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United Arab Emirates was made public in New York on September 17. According to it, the governments of the two countries decided to establish diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level effective from the date of signing the joint communique, out of their desire to promote the mutual interests of their peoples and strengthen friendship and cooperation, on the basis of the principles and purpose of the United Nations Charter, especially the international law and treaties on the promotion of international peace and security, equality among nations, national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries and in conformity with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations dated April 18, 1961.
• Visits
  Pyongyang, September 20 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegation led by Choe Su Hon, vice-foreign minister, left here today to participate in the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly. Saaeed Eleia Dawood, director of the Organizational Department of of the Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, and his party arrived here on the same day.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Delegation of Myanmar
  Pyongyang, September 17 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Foreign Ministry of Myanmar led by Vice-Minister U Kyaw Thu at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Monday.
• Kim Jong Il Congratulates Syrian President
  Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Monday sent a congratulatory message to Bashar Al-Assad, regional secretary of the Baath Arab Socialist Party and President of Syria, on his 42nd birthday. The message said: Today the Syrian people under your leadership are striving hard to defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country and build a modern society, meeting all challenges and overcoming difficulties, and making a positive contribution to the fair and comprehensive settlement of the Mideast issue. Pleased to note that the excellent friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are steadily growing stronger even under the complicated international situation, the message wished him good health and happiness and greater success in his responsible work.
• Message of Sympathy to Algerian President
  Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Saturday sent a message of sympathy to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in connection with the suicide bombing attack in Algeria that claimed dozens of casualties. In the message Kim extended deep sympathy and condolences to the Algerian president and, through him, to the victims and the bereaved families and reiterated the firm support and solidarity of the DPRK with the national reconciliation policy of the Algerian president and government for stability and unity of the country.
• Foreign Delegations Arrive
  Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the China Association for International Friendly Contact led by Vice-President Shen Weiping arrived here today by air to mark the 59th anniversary of the DPRK. On the same day a Qatar delegation of Al-Jazeera Satellite Television led by its Director General Wadah Khanfar came here.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Vietnamese Delegation
  Pyongyang, September 7 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a friendly talk with the delegation of the Central Committee of the Fatherland Front of Vietnam led by its President Pham The Duyet at the Mansudae Assembly Hall today. Present there were Kim Wan Su, director of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland, officials concerned and the Vietnamese charge d'affaires ad interim here.
• Promotion of Human Rights and Diversity of Culture Called for
  Teheran, September 4 (KCNA) -- The DPRK government and people will fulfill their responsibility and obligation to promote human rights and diversity of culture in the future, too and thus make a positive contribution to advancing the noble cause of the Non-Aligned Movement. Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, head of the DPRK delegation, said this when addressing the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on human rights and diversity of culture on September 3. Noting that the reality requires the member states of the NAM to get awakened and unite to reject the Western-style view on value detrimental to the independent development in the field of social culture including human rights and positively encourage and develop the diversity of culture, tradition and custom peculiar to each nation and state, he referred to the issues which require special attention. He said: Member states of the NAM should get united to stand firm against the politicization and selectivity of human rights and the application of double standards in dealing with them and disallow any attempt to use the "human rights protection" as a political lever for interfering in other country's internal affairs and trifling with the destiny of other nations. [Independent states]
• Iranian President on Need to Develop Relations with DPRK
  Pyongyang, September 5 (KCNA) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had talks with the DPRK delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Ui Chun participating in the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement on human rights and cultural diversity at the Tehran International Conference Center on Monday. He said that it is the steadfast stand of the Iranian government to develop the relations with the DPRK.
• Greetings to Turkish President
  Pyongyang, September 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, sent a message of greetings to Abdullah Gul on his election as President of Turkey on August 31. Expressing the belief that the bilateral friendly relations would further develop on good terms, Kim in the message wished him success in his work for progress and prosperity of the country.
• Visits
  Pyongyang, September 1 (KCNA) -- A DPRK delegation led by Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun left Pyongyang Saturday to participate in the ministerial meeting of the non-aligned movement on human rights and cultural diversity to be held in Tehran and to visit Iran. A friendship delegation of North Hwanghae Province led by Chairman of North Hwanghae Provincial People's Committee Ri Sang Gwan also left Pyongyang today to visit Mongolia. Arriving here on the same day was a delegation of the International Cultural and Educational Foundation of Nepal led by President Ek Nath Dhakal and a delegation of Loxley Pacific Company Limited of Thailand led by Jingjai Hanchanlash, executive vice-president of the Loxley Public Company Limited of Thailand, to participate in the 22nd meeting of the North�|East Asia Telephone and Telecommunications Co. LTD Directors' Board. [ICT]
• Greetings to Malaysian King
  Pyongyang, August 31 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, Friday sent a message of greetings to Malaysian King A1�|Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni A1�|Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al�|Muktafi Billah Shah on the occasion of the 50th national day of Malaysia. Kim in his message expressed his belief that the good relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Malaysia would grow stronger in the future.

• Rodong Sinmun Observes 47th Anniversary of Opening of Diplomatic Ties between DPRK and Cuba
  Pyongyang, August 29 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed article carried on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Cuba says that the people of the DPRK send friendly greetings to the fraternal Cuban people and wish them greater success in their drive for building socialism.
• Pak Ui Chun Meets Foreign Ambassadors
  Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun Monday separately met and conversed with new German Ambassador to the DPRK Thomas Schafer who paid a courtesy call on him and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Phan Trong Thai who paid a farewell call on him.
• Seoul names new chief of mission to U.N
  � Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chon was named Tuesday as the chief of South Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York, the Foreign Ministry said. A graduate of the Columbia University in New York, the 48-year-old Kim led the country's negotiations with the United States for a free trade agreement that were concluded earlier in the year.
• Ban Meets N.Korea Envoy Over Summit
  United nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited North Korea's Ambassador to the UN Pak Gil-yon to his office in New York on Tuesday, two weeks ahead of the second inter-Korean summit. The two discussed the summit and international aid to North Korea, which is suffering from recent flood damage. [Ban Ki-moon]
• Iranian First Vice-President on Friendly Ties with DPRK
  Teheran, August 9 (KCNA) -- The traditional friendly relations between Iran and the DPRK are developing under the deep care of the leaders of the two countries. The Iranian people remember the Korean people who sincerely helped them in the hard period after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Iranian First Vice-President Parviz Davudi said this Thursday when meeting and having a talk with the government economic delegation of the DPRK led by Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong Man on a visit to Iran. The Iranian government attaches great importance to boosting the friendly ties based on justice with such anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. and revolutionary countries as the DPRK, he noted, adding that Iran hopes that the cooperation in various fields including economy would further expand and develop in the future, too, to be commensurate with a high level of political relations that exist between the two countries.
• DPRK Government Will Strive for Peace
  Pyongyang, August 5 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, who is leading a DPRK delegation to the ministerial meeting of the 14th ASEAN regional forum, said at the meeting that the DPRK government will continue to closely cooperate with the member states of the forum including ASEAN countries for the peace on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the region in the idea of its external policy for independence, peace and friendship in the future, too. It is indispensable for the ASEAN regional forum to thoroughly keep the essential principles of respect of sovereignty, non-interference in other's internal affairs, peaceful co-existence and ban on the use of force in order to fulfill its mission as a unique forum for political dialogue in the region, Pak said, and continued: One of the main instable factors present in Asia is none other than Japan.
  The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is, in essence, the issue directly connected with the end of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and removal of nuclear threat to it. Recalling the adoption of the Feb. 13 agreement, Pak reaffirmed the DPRK government's firm will to honor its commitments under the agreement.
• Visits
  Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- A government economic delegation of the DPRK led by Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong Man left here today to visit Iran and Syria. A delegation of the Workers' Party of Korea led by Cha Yong Myong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK, also left here today to visit Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia.
• Half Centenary of Meeting between Kim Il Sung and Ho Chi Minh Observed
  Pyongyang, August 3 (KCNA) -- A photo exhibition and film show took place at the People's Palace of Culture Thursday to commemorate the half centenary of the meeting between President Kim Il Sung and Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh. Speeches were made there. The participants in the functions looked round the photos showing Kim Il Sung meeting Vietnamese leaders including Ho Chi Minh and conducting external activities and photos dealing with the life and activities of Ho Chi Minh. Then they watched the Korean documentary film "The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung meets heads of state and prominent figures of foreign countries" Part 1. Present there were Acting Chairman of the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries Mun Jae Chol
• Talks Held between Kim Yong Nam and Singaporean President
  Singapore, August 1 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, had talks with Singaporean President S. R. Nathan at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday. Recalling that the DPRK was one of the first countries to recognize the Republic of Singapore, the Singaporean president said his country was grateful for this. He stated that Singapore was deeply interested in boosting the relations with the DPRK, stressing that the two countries should maintain independence and tighten the bilateral ties as non-aligned countries. The two sides at the talks exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly relations between the two countries and matters of mutual concern. Present there were Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, DPRK Ambassador to Singapore Ji Jae Suk, Second Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Foreign Ministry Bilahari Kausikan and other officials concerned. Kim Yong Nam arrived in Singapore that day.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Goh Chok Tong
  Singapore, August 1 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, met and had a warm conversation with Goh Chok Tong, senior minister of Singapore, who paid a courtesy call on him on August 1. Present there were Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ji Jae Suk, DPRK ambassador to Singapore. Also present there were Bilahari Kausikan, second permanent secretary of the Singaporean foreign ministry, and officials concerned.
• Kim Yong Nam Returns Home
  Pyongyang, August 2 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, returned home Thursday after winding up his official goodwill visits to Mongolia, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia and Singapore. Also coming back home with him were Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ri Myong San, vice-minister of Foreign Trade. They were greeted at the airport by Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, Minister of Foreign Trade Rim Kyong Man, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon, and diplomatic envoys of Egypt, Russia, Mongolia and China here. They left Singapore Thursday.
• North Korea's new foreign minister debuts in regional security forum
  The Associated Press Published: July 31, 2007
  MANILA, Philippines: North Korean diplomats have a well-earned reputation as glum technocrats who spout the reclusive communist country's official line and little else. Its new face to the world isn't any more likely to stray from policy and hasn't been any more forthcoming about North Korea's inner workings. But in his first appearance on an international stage, new Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun is showing that he knows how to smile and even recognizes a good photo opportunity. The 74-year-old Pak, making his first overseas trip since becoming North Korea's top diplomat in May, is in Manila to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia's largest security grouping. His visit comes amid renewed optimism that his country will eventually abandon its nuclear weapons program in return for economic aid and other political concessions.
• Foreign Minister George Yeo to visit North Korea next year
  By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 01 August 2007 2117 hrs
  MANILA: Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeo has accepted an invitation to visit North Korea next year when Singapore chairs ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). North Korea, a participant of the ARF, has extended the invitation during a bilateral meeting between Mr Yeo and his North Korean counterpart, Pak Ui-Chun, on the sidelines of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila.
• Talks between Kim Yong Nam and Ethiopian PM Held
  Addis Ababa, July 30 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, held talks with Meles Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa on July 30. At the talks both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly relations between the two countries and issues of mutual concern.
• Talks between DPRK Foreign Minister and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Held
  Pyongyang, July 31 (KCNA) -- Talks between DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Gatmaitan Romulo were held at the International Conference Center in Manila on July 29. Present there from the DPRK side were members of the DPRK delegation and from the Philippine side the deputy-secretary of Foreign Affairs and other officials concerned and the Philippine ambassador to the DPRK. On the same day the DPRK foreign minister paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the House of Representatives Jose de Venecia and was feted by the Philippine secretary of Foreign Affairs.

• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Addis Ababa
  Addis Ababa, July 27 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, arrived in Addis Ababa on July 27 to pay an official goodwill visit to Ethiopia. Arriving here together with him were Choe Chang Sik, minister of Public Health, Kim Hyong Jun, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, Ri Myong San, vice-minister of Foreign Trade, and other suite members. He published a statement upon his arrival. Kim Yong Nam and his party were greeted at the airport by Asfaw Dingamo, minister of Water Resources, and others, DPRK Ambassador to Ethiopia O Ul Rok and his embassy officials. Prior to it, he and his party left Cairo by plane.
• Kim Yong Nam Meets Ethiopian President
  Addis Ababa, July 27 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, paid a courtesy call on Girma Wolde-Giorgis, President of Ethiopia, on July 27. Present there were Minister of Public Health Choe Chang Sik, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hyong Jun, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Myong San and DPRK Ambassador to Ethiopia O Ul Rok. Also present there were Minister of Water Resources Asfaw Dingamo, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nega Tsegaye and other officials concerned. Kim had a friendly talk with the Ethiopian president.
• NK Minister Attends ASEAN Forum
  Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, left, raises hand with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chin during their bilateral meeting in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, July 29, 2007. Pak is in the country to attend the 14th ASEAN regional forum, Asia's largest security forum, on Aug. 2. / AP-Yonhap SEOUL _ North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun left for Manila Saturday to attend an Asian regional forum, the country's media reported, amid international efforts to dismantle the communist country's nuclear weapons program. Foreign ministers and other top diplomats from 27 countries are scheduled to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia's largest security forum, that opens in the Philippine capital on August 2. �
• Talks between Kim Yong Nam and Algerian President Held
  Algiers, July 25 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Talks between Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of Algeria, were held at the Presidential Palace on July 25. At the talks both sides informed each other of their countries' situation and exchanged views on the issue of boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in various fields and issues of mutual concern. The talks proceeded in a friendly atmosphere.
• Kim Yong Nam Arrives in Algiers
  Algiers, July 24 (KCNA Correspondent) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, arrived in Algiers on July 24 to pay an official goodwill visit to Algeria. The president and his party were greeted at the airport by the president of the Council of the Nation of Algeria, others and officials concerned and the DPRK ambassador to Algeria and staff members of the DPRK embassy.
• Kim Yong Nam Leaves for Foreign Countries
  Pyongyang, July 20 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, today left Pyongyang by a special plane to pay official good-will visits to Mongolia, Algeria and Ethiopia. Leaving together with him were Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun, Minister of Public Health Choe Chang Sik and other suite members.
• UN's Ban Meets with Bush
  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon held talks with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House Tuesday. In a joint news conference after the meeting, Ban said he appreciated the U.S. government's "initiative and flexibility in promoting development" of the North Korean nuclear issue. "I'm encouraged and I welcome the recent development of the situation," Ban said. "I hope that the parties concerned, including (North Korea), will take necessary measures to implement this joint statement to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as soon as possible." [Ban Ki-moon] [UNUS]
• Diplomatic Relations between DPRK and Montenegro Established
  Pyongyang, July 18 (KCNA) -- The DPRK and the Republic of Montenegro agreed to establish diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level on July 16 on the basis of the UN Charter and the principles of the universally recognized international law. The report on establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries was made public here on July 17. The opening of diplomatic ties will provide favorable conditions for boosting the bilateral ties in political, economic, cultural and various other fields on the principles of respecting each other's independence, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and equality.
• It is time for Ban Ki-moon to speak up and speak out
  After six months in the job, the UN secretary general should be taking the lead, but his record so far is underwhelming Jonathan Steele Friday July 13, 2007 The Guardian The United Nations has long had a public relations problem. Its detractors are loud and passionate, its supporters low-key and reasonable. Around the world the numbers of people who wish the organisation well far exceed those who see it as a nuisance, yet they barely make their voices heard. As a result, the UN is always on the defensive. Never more than now, six months after Ban Ki-moon's installation as the eighth secretary general. Foreign minister in the South Korean government which sent troops to Iraq after the US invasion, he was the Bush administration's favourite among the five contestants for the job. His country is totally dependent on the US for its defence. He had little experience of the UN or large parts of the world. He was described as a cautious, even faceless bureaucrat, and a man of little vision. [Ban Ki-moon]
• Kim Yong Nam to Visit Mongolia, Algeria and Ethiopia
  Pyongyang, July 12 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, will soon pay an official good-will visit to Mongolia at the invitation of its President Nambariin Enkhbayar. He will also make similar visits to Algeria and Ethiopia.
• Great King of Cambodia Sends Big Floral Basket to DPRK Embassy
  Pyongyang, July 10 (KCNA) -- Norodom Sihanouk, Great King of Cambodia, sent a big floral basket to the DPRK embassy in Phnom Penh on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of demise of President Kim Il Sung. Written on the ribbon of the floral basket were letters "Highest tribute to HE Generalissimo Kim Il Sung, president of the DPRK. Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia". A delegation of the Ministry of the Royal Palace of the Cambodian government led by Kong Sam Ol, deputy prime minister in charge of the Royal Palace, on July 6 visited the DPRK embassy and laid the floral basket before the portrait of Kim Il Sung and paid homage, authorized by the great king.
• Ban Ki-Moon's Role of UN Secretary General
  [Part 2] Impact of press on actions of the UN head � � Ronda Hauben (netizen2)
  Published 2007-07-04 12:26 (KST) � � June 30, 2007 marks the first six months that Ban Ki-moon has held the position as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The following two-part article is an effort to look at the role of Secretary General and some of the challenges he faces. � You can find part 1 of this article here. How has the role of the press affected the actions of the new Secretary General? There is an important example that has developed which helps to demonstrate the impact that the press has had on Ban Ki-moon.
  In the interview with Hankyoreh before he took office,(1) Ban described how he would act to support a solution to the problem of relations between North Korea and the Northeast Asia region, and the disarmament of the Korean peninsula. On January 19, 2007, just a few weeks after Ban became Secretary General, there were news reports of a breakthrough in negotiations between the Christopher Hill for the U.S. and Kim Kye-gwan for North Korea.(2) The International Herald Tribune reported (3): "The movement toward a possible breakthrough came during the talks in Berlin between Hill and Kim, Chosun Ilbo reported, citing unidentified officials in Seoul and Beijing." Timed, it appeared, to coincide with the breakthrough, however, was the publication in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of an article "United Nations Dictator's Program" by Melanie Kirkpatrick. A similar article was published by Fox News. These articles alleged that North Korea was manipulating funds from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in North Korea. These press accounts reported that UNDP funds were being used by Kim Jong-il, for whatever he wanted, including "his weapons program." (4) No proof was provided for this accusation. The articles included other unsupported allegations. While most of the press reports in the U.S. just repeated or exaggerated the original allegations, a few Korean publications provided a different perspective. The Korean newspaper Voice of the People pointed out that the allegations of UNDP mismanagement appeared just as the North Korean and U.S. representatives had had productive negotiations in Berlin.(5) The Voice of the People asked why the U.S. Mission to the U.N. was raising these issues "at this time." � "Despite the totally unfounded allegation by the hawks," the editors write, "it has a political effect for freezing (the) bilateral relationship between Washington and Pyongyang."(6) Ban Ki-moon's response to the WSJ and Fox news articles was to call immediately for an audit of all UN programs. The audit was to start with an audit of all programs in North Korea. A few days later the call for an audit of all UN programs was dropped. The audit was to be of North Korea's UNDP program.(7) � [UNDP] [Toolkit] [Ban Ki-moon]
• Ban Ki-Moon's Role of UN Secretary General
  [Part 1] Ronda Hauben asks if there is a guiding vision in the organization
  � Ronda Hauben (netizen2)
  Published 2007-06-30 16:43 (KST) � � June 30, 2007 marks the first six months that Ban Ki-moon has held the position as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The following two-part article is an effort to look at the role of Secretary General and some of the challenges he faces. � Introduction Ban Ki-moon's nomination by the Security Council to be the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations was sent to the General Assembly on Oct. 13, 2006. Ban succeeded in winning the nomination after a difficult and contested campaign.(1) But his trial by fire was only just beginning. Ban had succeeded in winning the votes of China and of the U.S. His achievement winning the votes of these two nations, who are permanent members of the Security Council, was seen by a number of commentators as the critical step needed to win the nomination for Secretary General.(2) [Ban Ki-moon] [UN]

• Philippine FM Feted
  Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea hosted a reception for the visiting Philippine secretary of Foreign Affairs and his entourage at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Tuesday. �
• Rodong Sinmun Calls for Boosting South-South Cooperation
  Pyongyang, June 22 (KCNA) -- South-South cooperation provides a sure guarantee for achieving national prosperity and economic progress. Rodong Sinmun today says this in a signed article. If the developing countries pool their efforts to stand on their own feet without depending on the developed countries, they can certainly achieve national prosperity and economic progress, the article notes, and goes on: It is the most correct way of solving any problem to develop the South-South cooperation on the principle of collective self-reliance. [Juche] [Globalisation]
• Top NKorea official holds talks in Tehran
  Thu May 10, 1:20 PM ET TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran's Vice President Parviz Davoudi said there was "no limit" to expanding ties with Pyongyang after holding talks with North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il. "Tehran sees no limit in expanding ties and cooperation with Pyongyang," Davoudi was quoted as saying by the student ISNA news agency.

• N.Korea Slams U.S., Japan, S.Korea
  By JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press Thursday, May 24, 2007; 6:29 AM MANILA, Philippines -- Reclusive North Korea accused the U.S., Japan and South Korea of being Asia's biggest security threats and pledged to give up its nuclear weapons if they dismantle missiles aimed at it, according to a North Korean document seen Thursday. North Korea painted a bleak picture of Asia's security in the defense paper it presented to the ASEAN Regional Forum in a closed meeting, but welcomed six-way talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean peninsula as a crucial first step toward peace. "The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is in essence not the question of unilateral disbandment of the (North Korean) nuclear program only," said the report, seen by The Associated Press. It said the denuclearization also depended on the removal "of more than one thousand nuclear weapons deployed in and around North Korea under the U.S. nuclear umbrella and termination of the U.S. hostile policy toward (North Korea) and its nuclear threat as well." [Denuclearisation] [NK US policy]
• Nicaragua Re-Establishes N. Korea Ties
  The Associated Press Thursday, May 17, 2007; 8:45 PM MANAGUA, Nicaragua -- The leftist administration of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has re-established formal diplomatic relations with North Korea and rejected criticism of the Asian country's nuclear weapons program, the government said Thursday. Relations between the two countries had been suspended since 1990, when Violeta Barrios de Chamorro defeated Ortega in presidential elections and ended 11 years of rule by Ortega's Sandinista Front. As a former Marxist revolutionary and socialist president, Ortega fought a 10-year war with the U.S.-backed Contra rebels. But Ortega returned to office in January, and on Wednesday he revived relations when he received the credentials of North Korean Ambassador Jae Myong So, the Ministry of Communication said. "It isn't right, it isn't fair" that some countries "that arm themselves then want to prohibit others from arming themselves in self-defense," Ortega said in an apparent reference to the United States. [Double standards]

• N.Korea and Burma Resume Diplomatic Ties
  North Korea and Burma agreed Thursday to restore diplomatic relations after a break of 24 years. Burma severed ties with North Korea in 1983, accusing Pyongyang of a deadly bomb attack at Aung San Cemetery in a failed assassination attempt on South Korea's then President Chun Doo-hwan. Following a meeting with North Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Yong-il on Thursday, Burma's Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu said, "This morning we signed an agreement to restore diplomatic ties," AP and other foreign news services reported. No further details of the agreement were given. A North Korean delegation led by Kim has been on a three-day visit to Burma since Wednesday. The delegation is also expected to meet with Burma's military leaders. The two nations have over the past few years worked to restore diplomatic relations through routine talks at regional meetings, and Burma has reportedly been purchasing weapons from North Korea, AP said. Both countries have been branded "outposts of tyranny" by the U.S. Quoting diplomatic experts, AFP said, "The two nations may have felt drawn together in recent years due to a shared perception they have a common foe in the U.S. and the West more broadly. There is an arms embargo on the Burmese military, so maybe the Burmese military is looking for (North Korean) arms systems using Burmese resources - like rice."
• Joint Communique on Reestablishment of Diplomatic Relations between DPRK and Union of Myanmar Released
  Pyongyang, April 26 (KCNA) -- A Joint communique on the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Union of Myanmar was released in Yangon on April 26. According to the joint communique, the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the government of the Union of Myanmar, desirous of developing friendly relations and bilateral cooperation between the two countries and peoples, based on the principles of respect for each other's sovereignty, non-interference in their internal affairs, and equality and mutual benefit, as well as the norms of international law and the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter, have agreed to reestablish the diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18th April 1961.
• Myanmar, North Korea Re-Establish Ties
  The Associated Press Thursday, April 26, 2007; 4:26 AM YANGON, Myanmar -- Myanmar and North Korea, two of Asia's most repressive regimes, signed an agreement Thursday to resume diplomatic ties during a visit to Myanmar by the North Korean vice foreign minister, an official said. Myanmar severed diplomatic relations with North Korea in 1983, following a fatal bombing blamed on North Korean commandos during a visit to Yangon by former South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan.
  The two countries have been quietly working to normalize relations for the past few years. The two governments routinely meet at regional meetings, and Myanmar has reportedly bought weapons from North Korea. Myanmar's deputy foreign minister, Kyaw Thu, told reporters the agreement to restore ties was signed Thursday morning on the second day of the three-day visit by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il, whose trip had been cloaked in secrecy. It is now up to Pyongyang whether it will open diplomatic offices in Myanmar, Kyan Thu said. [Terrorism]
• DPRK Foreign Ministry Delegation Leaves
  Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the DPRK Foreign Ministry led by Vice-Minister Kim Yong Il left here on April 19 to visit Asian countries. It was seen off at the airport by officials concerned and diplomatic envoys of Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Iran.
• North Korea, Myanmar Mull Resuming Ties: Report
  By REUTERS Published: April 8, 2007 Filed at 0:22 a.m. ET Skip to next paragraph TOKYO (Reuters) - A senior North Korean Foreign Ministry official is expected to visit Myanmar late this month to discuss resumption of diplomatic ties, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported, citing diplomatic sources in Yangon. The sources said the official would visit Myanmar's new administrative capital, Nay Pyi Taw, around April 24. The official was believed to be Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il, who has been involved in normalization talks with Myanmar, Kyodo said. The two reclusive governments have been at odds since North Korean agents said to have direct links with current leader Kim Jong-il carried out a bomb attack on a South Korean government delegation to Yangon in 1983. More than 20 people were killed and at least twice that number wounded in the attack. The agents were said to have been targeting then South Korean President Chun Doo Hwan during an official visit to Yangon. [Terrorism]
• Congratulations to Regional Secretary of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party
  Pyongyang, April 6 (KCNA) -- General Secretary Kim Jong Il Friday sent a congratulatory message to Bashar al�|Assad, regional secretary of Syria's Baath Arab Socialist Party, on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. The message says: I extend warm congratulations to you and, through you, to the leadership and all the members of the Baath Arab Socialist Party on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.
• DPRK Women's Delegation Leaves for Venezuela
  Pyongyang, March 29 (KCNA) -- A delegation of the Korean Democratic Women's Union led by Vice-chairperson of its central committee Kim Kyong Ok left here today to participate in the 14th Congress of the Women's International Democratic Federation to be held in Venezuela. It was seen off at Pyongyang Railway Station by officials concerned and the staff members of the Cuban embassy here.
• Solidarity Bulletin March 2007
  Bulletin of the Korean Committee for Solidarity with the World People, Pyongyang
• DPRK Foreign Ministry Hails Establishment of Unified National Government of Palestine
  Pyongyang, March 22 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the following answer to the question put by KCNA on Mar. 22 as regards the establishment of the unified national government in Palestine. Some days ago, the unified national government was set up according to an agreement between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement and the Palestine National Liberation Movement.

• UN Secretary-General Ban "Bound to Fail" - Report
  Although UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is aggressively trying to resolve international disputes and reform the United Nations, he is likely to fail, according to the March 5 edition of U.S. magazine Newsweek. The analytic article "Bound to Fail" by Sebastian Mallaby, a director with a U.S. think-tank, says that Ban's efforts are "mission impossible" and that "everything about the United Nations conspires against him." Newsweek attributes Ban's likely failure to the election process and his career. Although Ban ascended to the top position of the UN after 36 years of diplomacy work, "his selection was the result of backroom deals rather than a merit-based contest." As a diplomat of South Korea caught between superpower nations, Ban was "consensual" and "a listener" rather than a "charismatic statesman," Newsweek says. The article adds that "no U.N. chief executive would be likely to succeed at the United Nations as it is today, for the secretary-general is less the leader of the international system than its prisoner." [Ban Ki-moon] [UNUS]
• Bound to Fail
  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has taken on 'mission impossible.' Everything about The United Nations conspires against him.
  By Sebastian Mallaby Newsweek International March 5, 2007 issue - On a celebrated Thursday in April 1953, the first secretary-general of the United Nations greeted his successor as he arrived at New York's Idlewild airport, now JFK. You are about to inherit "the most impossible job in the world," he told him. Half a century on, that warning still overshadows the heirs to the U.N. throne. Ban Ki-moon, the South Korean diplomat who stepped into the job in January, jokes that he has taken on "Mission: Impossible." This is the humor of the gallows.
  When he suggested that, lacking Security Council authorization, the U.S. invasion of Iraq was "illegal," he unleashed a firestorm of recriminations from the Bush administration. And yet, by the end of his tenure, developing countries tended to view Annan as the stooge of Washington.
  The U.N. secretary-general, no matter how skilled, is caught between big powers that refuse to make the institution fair and small powers that refuse to make it more efficient.
• Challenges and Proposals for U.N. Reformer
  Ban Ki-moon and basic methods to handle the G77 and the U.S.
  [Analysis] Jae Young Lee (ohmyjoshua) Published 2007-02-20 16:16 (KST) � In the face of the long-held criticism of the U.N.'s ineffectiveness and lack of capability as the world guardian, Ban Ki-moon, as the new Secretary General of the U.N., stepped into the position on Jan. 1, 2007 on which great political pressure is imposed to reform the U.N. Could he successfully deal with obstacles ahead in undertaking the U.N. reform from now on? As for the reform, there is wide concern about his leadership, as he seems to have fallen short of aggressively fulfilling the expected reform. He was described as "the kind of a person, more secretary than general" and "pretty faceless and no much charisma"(1) The greatest challenges facing Ban are: the volatile conflict between the developing countries and the western developed countries and the United States' unilateralist behaviors that placed its own interest above those of the U.N. They have had a tendency of leading the U.N. operation into disruption. [Ban Ki-moon]