NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER NO. 59 (June 18, 2009)

*** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW

SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments
related to North Korea between June 11-17, 2009.

June
11 Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly
(SPA) sent a congratulatory message to Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorzh upon his election
as Mongolian president.
11 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says Kim Yong-nam sent a message
of greetings to Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan, on May 27 on the occasion
of its national day.
11 The KCNA says North Korea demanded the early construction of a dormitory and
childcare facilities as well as a new road for North Koreans working at the joint
industrial complex in Kaesong, during an inter-Korean meeting held in the North
Korean border town of Kaesong.
11 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,
president of the Philippines to mark the 111th anniversary of its independence.
11 Choe Thae-bok, chairman of the SPA, meets Indian Ambassador to North Korea
Zile Singh, who paid a farewell call on him at Mansudae Assembly Hall in
Pyongyang.
11 Russian Ambassador to Pyongyang Valery Sukhinin hosts a reception to mark the
national day of the Russian Federation, attended by Vice Minister of Foreign
Affairs Kung Sok-ung, among others.
12 Premier Kim Yong-il sends a message of greetings to Vladimir Vladimirovich
Putin, prime minister of Russia on its national day.
12 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to Dmitri Anatolievich Medvedev,
president of Russia, on its national day.
12 Kim Yong-nam meets Zile Singh, Indian ambassador to Pyongyang, who paid a
farewell visit to him at Mansudae Assembly Hall.
12 A spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland
tells the KCNA South Korean news reports that fake US dollars circulating in the
South were proved to be from North Korea is an anti-North trick.
13 The North Korean foreign ministry declares the socialist state will start a
uranium enrichment program, weaponize all its newly extracted plutonium and
threatens military action against the United States and its allies after the U.N.
Security Council approved new sanctions to punish the Norht for its recent
nuclear test.
13 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il inspected the command of 7th Infantry Division of
the KPA located in the eastern sector of the front.
14 The KCNA says Kim Jong-il watched the opera "The Dream of the Red Chamber" at
the Hamhung Grand Theater by the Phibada Opera Troupe.
14 Kim Yong-nam sends a congratulatory message to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad upon his
reelection as president of Iran.
15 A performance is given by the Russian State Academic Igor Moiseyev Dance
Company at the Pyongyang Grand Theater on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of
leader Kim Jong-il's start of work at the Central Committee of the Workers' Party
of (North) Korea (WPK).
15 A delegation of the State Oceanic Administration of China headed by Deputy
Administrator Chen Lianzeng flies into Pyongyang.
15 A national meeting is held at the Central Youth Hall in Pyongyang to observe
the 9th anniversary of the first inter-Korean summit in June 2000, attended by
Yang Hyong-sop, vice president of the SPA Presidium.
15 A public rally of about 100,000 Pyongyang citizens is held at Kimilsung Square
to denounce the U.N. Security Council's resolution on sanctions against the
North's second nuclear test.
16 Meetings of youth, students and members of the Democratic Women's Union were
held in Pyongyang to mark the 45th anniversary of Kim Jong-il's start of work at
the WPK Central Committee.
16 The KCNA claims two convicted U.S. journalists admitted to crossing its border
with China and shooting video for a smear campaign against Pyongyang over its
human rights conditions.
16 Cuban Ambassador to the North Jose Manuel Galego Montano gives a reception at
the Cuban embassy to mark the 45th year of Kim Jong-il's work with the WPK
Central Committee.
17 A meeting is held in Pyongyang by workers and members of the General
Federation of Trade Unions of (North) Korea to mark the 45th anniversary of Kim
Jong-il's start of work at the WPK Central Committee, attended by Kim Jung-rin, a
WPK secretary.
17 Kim Yong-nam sends a message of greetings to James Alix Michel, president of
Seychelles, to mark the country's national day.
(END)