North Korea Newsletter 343 (Dec. 18 2014)

CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments related to North Korea from Dec. 11-17, 2014.

December

11 The spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea lashes out at South Korean President Park Geun-hye, saying she should first take issue with the United States' nukes, as it has a "stockpile of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons."

11 The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received a message from Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, national leader of the Workers' Party of Mexico, on Nov. 26 on the third anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il.

11 Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, sends a message of greeting to Uhuru Kenyatta, president of Kenya, on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the country's independence.

11 The KCNA says delegations of political parties and bodies of Uganda, Equatorial Guinea and DR Congo visited the North Korean embassies in their respective countries on Dec. 2 and 5 in remembrance of the late Kim Jong-il.

12 KCNA says the Cuauhtemoc Amezcua Dromundo, chairman of the Central Committee of the Socialist Popular Party of Mexico, issued a statement on Dec. 2 to honor the memory of late leader Kim Jong-il.

12 A group of young students pledges to remain loyal to Kim Jong-un at the plaza of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the third anniversary of demise of leader Kim Jong-il.

12 The KCNA says a number of technical successes has been made in the local passenger transportation and communication sector, such as a 1.5-fold increase in the production of trolley buses from a year ago by the Pyongyang Trolley Bus Factory.

12 The KCNA says Kang Yong-dok, North Korean ambassador to Lithuania, presented his credentials to Dalia Grybauskaite, president of Lithuania, on Dec. 8.

12 The KNCA says Atanas Ivanov, honorary chairman of the Bulgarian Communists Union, released a statement on Dec. 5 to commemorate the third anniversary of Kim Jong-il's demise.

13 The KCNA accuses the United States of stepping up efforts to "siege" China by deploying the THAAD in South Korea and plugging Japan as its missile shield.

13 The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North's Workers' Party of Korea, criticizes Japan's efforts to press the U.S. to rewrite world history textbooks for public high schools in Los Angeles and other areas in California as an action that revives Tokyo's militarism.

13 Kim Jong-un inspects KPA navy Unit 189 honored with the title of O Jung Hup-led 7th Regiment.

13 A spokesman for the Foreign ministry accuses the United States of systematic human abuse, after the unveiling of reports of "inhuman acts of torture applied by the CIA agents against suspects of international terrorist groups."

14 North Korean agricultural workers pledge to remain loyal to Kim Jong-un with increased production of rice, the last instructions of Kim Jong-il, commemorating the third anniversary of the demise of leader Kim Jong Il.

14 Minju Joson, the North's cabinet newspaper, slams Japan for increasing the scope of the self-defense forces with the support from the U.S. forces, adding North Korea will not overlook Japan's moves to "inflict huge misfortune and pain upon the Korean nation."

14 Kim Jong-un receives a message from Bashar Al-Assad, president of the Syrian Arab Republic, on the occasion of the third anniversary of the demise of leader Kim Jong-il.

15 Workers and members of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea vows to uphold loyalty to Kim Jong-il, commemorating the third anniversary of his death.

15 The spokesman for the Foreign ministry warns that the U.S. will face "the toughest counteraction" over its offensive on Pyongyang's dismal human rights record, in light of the passage of a legislation that requires the U.S. government to submit a report on North Korea's political prison camps.

15 Premier Pak Pong-ju sends a congratulatory message to Patrice Emery Trovoada upon his assumption of office as prime minister, head of the government of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.

16 Officials and members of the Democratic Women's Union of Korea vowed to remain true to Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the third anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death.

16 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greeting to Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa, king of the Kingdom of Bahrain, on the country's national day.

16 Minju Joson accused Japan of not feeling guilty about its "history woven with extra-large crimes against humanity," claiming Tokyo is joining in "the United States' human rights offensive against DPRK (North Korea)."

16 Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong sends a congratulatory message to Lundeg Purevsuren upon his appointment as foreign minister of Mongolia.

16 Kim Jong-un gives field guidance to the Pyongyang Children's Foodstuff Factory.

16 South Korean opposition lawmaker Park Jie-won visits Kaesong to convey a wreath commemorating the third anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il, on behalf of Lee Hee-ho, widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
(END)