【Internal Affairs】
On December 30-January 1, the North Korean media reported that Kim
Jong Un watched a congratulatory performance for the participants of
the fifth Conference of Cell Chairpersons of the Workers’ Party of
Korea (WPK) and made a New Year’s address.
On January 2, the North Korean media reported that schoolchildren
gave the New Year’s performance “Song of Greatest Happiness” at the
Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace on December 31.
On January 5, the North Korean media reported that officials of
ministries and national institutions did the first “Friday Labor” for
this year at farms in Pyongyang.
【Inter-Korean Affairs】
On January 3, the North Korean media reported that as delegated by
Kim Jong Un, Ri Son Kwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful
Reunification of the Country, announced the North’s position on the
South Korean government’s official position on Kim Jong Un’s New
Year’s address and on the ROK President’s remarks at a Cabinet meeting.
【Foreign Affairs】
On December 29, the KCNA, in its report, defined 2017 as a year when
a fundamental change took place in the global political landscape
surrounding the Korean Peninsula and emphasized the North’s
determination to implement the “Byungjin” line(simultaneous
development of the economy and nuclear weapons).
1) Friday Labor refers to the rendering of physical labor every
Friday by white-collar workers and office workers of the party’s and
state’s institutions and enterprises.
