North Korea-weekly review-6

NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 54 (May 14, 2009)

*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments
related to North Korea between May 7-13, 2009.

May
7 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says Kim Yong-nam, president of
the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), on May 6 sent a
congratulatory message to Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma on his election as president
of South Africa.
7 The KCNA says Kim Yong-nam arrives in Singapore on May 6.
7 Kim Yong-nam holds talks in Singapore with Singaporean President S. R. Nathan.
7 A protocol of the 43rd meeting of North Korea-China inter-governmental
committee for scientific and technological cooperation is signed in Pyongyang.
7 Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun holds talks in Lima with Peru's foreign minister
Jose Garcia Belaunde.
7 A spokesman for the (North) Korean Committee of Space Technology issues a
statement, reiterating its earlier claim that a successful satellite launch was
made and that the satellite's "normal operation" in orbit.
8 A foreign ministry spokesman blasts the Barack Obama administration for being
"hostile" toward it and vows to bolster its nuclear deterrent, saying "The study
of the policy pursued by the Obama administration for the past 100 days since its
emergence made it clear that the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK remains
unchanged."
8 A delegation of the China-North Korea Friendship Association led by Chairman Wu
Donghe and a local government delegation of China, headed by Vice Chairman of the
Sichuan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
Wang Xian, grouping delegates of the people's government from the provinces of
Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan and the cities of Shanghai, Jilin, Hunchun, Tianjin
and Changchun arrives in Pyongyang to participate in a Korea-China city
friendship meeting.
8 The 9th May 21 architectural festival closes with a ceremony in Pyongyang,
wrapping up four-day schedule.
8 Kim Yong-nam arrives in Johannesburg to visit South Africa.
9 A Jilin provincial people's government delegation of China headed by Vice
Governor Chen Weigen arrives in Pyongyang.
9 Delegations from China, Malaysia, Sweden, Singapore, Australia, Vietnam,
Thailand, and Taiwan arrive in Pyongyang to participate in the 12th Pyongyang
Spring International Trade Fair.
9 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il provided field guidance to industrial establishments,
including the Huichon General Machine-Tool Plant and the Youth Electrical
Complex, in Huichon, Jagang Province.
9 Kim Yong-nam attends the South African President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma's
inauguration ceremony held at the presidential palace.
10 Kim Yong-nam holds talks with South African President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma.
10 Kim Yong-nam holds talks with Zambian President Rupiah Bwezani Banda and Cuban
Vice President Esteban Lazo Hernandez who paid a courtesy call on him. During his
visit to South Africa, Kim also 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.
11 The 12th Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair opens in Pyongyang.
11 A government delegation of Zimbabwe led by Minister of Interior Kembo Campbell
Dugishmohadi and a delegation of the Foreign Ministry of Myanmar headed by Deputy
Minister U Maung Myint fly into Pyongyang.
11 Kim Yong-nam arrives in Harare to visit Zimbabwe.
11 Kim Yong-nam holds talks with the Zimbabwean president.
11 Pak Ui-chun sends a congratulatory message to Mourad Medelci upon his
reappointment as foreign minister of Algeria.
11 Premier Kim Yong-il sends a congratulatory message to Ahmed Ouyahia upon his
reappointment as prime minister of Algeria.
11 Pak Ui-chun holds talks in Brasilia with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Luis
Nunes Amorim on his visit to Brazil.
12 A delegation of the North's Ministry of Land and Environmental Conservation
led by Minister Pak Song-nam leaves Pyongyang to participate in the Northeast
Asian ministerial-level meeting on climate change to be held in Mongolia.
12 People's Security Minister Ju Sang-song holds talks in Pyongyang with his
Zimbabwean counterpart, Minister of Interior Kembo Campbell Dugishmohadi.
12 The KCNA says a FIFA football coaching course was held in Pyongyang from May 5
to 9, attended by football coaches of North Korean sports teams. The KCNA also
says a FINA development water-polo coaches clinic was held between May 7 and 11
at the Indoor Swimming Pool in Pyongyang and an AFC (Asian Football
Confederation) coach (class A) qualification course was held between April 17 and
May 10 at Pyongyang's Kimilsung Stadium. FINA is the international governing body
of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming.
12 Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of the SPA Presidium, confers with the Chinese
delegations participating in the Korea-China friendship city meeting at the
Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang.
12 The North Korea-China friendship city meeting is held in Pyongyang, attended
by delegations from sister cities of the two sides.
12 Liu Xiaoming, Chinese ambassador to Pyongyang, and Wang Jinzhen, vice chairman
of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the China
Chamber of International Commerce, co-host a reception in Pyongyang on the
occasion of the Day of Wing of China at the 12th Pyongyang Spring International
Trade Fair.
12 Kim Yong-nam attends a banquet hosted by Zimbabwean Vice President Joyce
Teurai Ropa Mujuru during a visit to Zimbabwe.
13 Yang Hyong-sop confers with the Myanmarese foreign ministry delegation led by
its vice minister U Maung Myint at the Mansudae Assembly Hall.
13 A delegation of the China National Textile and Apparel Council headed by its
deputy chief Wang Tiankai flies into Pyongyang.
(END)