| July 1. | National
Emergency Epidemic Control Headquarters of North Korea announced
that Geumgang-gun county was the first outbreak region of the
COVID-19 epidemic (Korean Central News Agency· Rodong
Sinmun)
･ “The investigation committee specified Ipo-ri
District, Geumgang-gun County, Gangwon-do Province as the first
outbreak district of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Investigation
committee reported to the Communist Party Central Committee that
the COVID-19 epidemic was first found in those who had contact
with goods delivered by balloon and weather, including wind. The
investigation committee also reported that several people coming
from Ipo-ri District to Pyeongyang had a fever, and the symptoms
were spread to those who contacted them.
･ “National
Emergency Epidemic Control Headquarters of North Korea
strengthened the monitoring and reporting system for all
residents related to strange objects flown on balloons or by
weather phenomenon, including wind, around the border areas and
issued the emergency reaction instruction asking for emergency
epidemic control corps to thoroughly collect and dispose of
strange objects. |
| July 8 (On
site). | Elizabeth Sylvia Salmon
was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights
Situations in North Korea (50th UN Human Rights Council) |
| July 10. | North Korea launched Multiple Rocket Launchers
twice.
[Office
of National Security held an emergency meeting (July
10)]
“Intently watching up the situations to cope with
any potential launches of additional launchers by North
Korea” |
| July 11.
| The Ministry of Unification published
the opinions of the Government related to damage to property of
South Korea by North Korea in its territory.
･ “Ministry
of Unification identified the illegal operation of a bus, as
assumed to be a commuter bus for the Gaeseong Industrial Complex
in downtown Gaeseong on a broadcast in North Korea last week.
Furthermore, North Korea has been continuously damaging the
property of South Koreans, including the demolition of
facilities of South Korea in Mt. Geumgang Tourism Zone from
around March up to now.”
･ “The Government has been
closely watching up the behaviors of North Korea illegally
demolishing or using the facilities of South Korea in the
Gaeseong Industrial Complex and Mt. Geumgang districts.”
･ “Such behaviors by North Korea are definitely infringements of
inter-Korean agreements and an infringement of property right of
South Korea.”
･ “The Government clarified that North
Korea should immediately stop such behaviors and be wholly
responsible for any damages or losses due to such
behaviors.” |
| July 12. |
Public tours to Panmunjeom resumed. |
| July 19. | The Government appointed the Ambassador for
International Cooperation on Human Rights in North Korea. |
| July 19 (On Site). | The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
passed the re-approval proposal on the North Korean Human Rights
Act.
･ △ Re-approval on humanitarian support for North
Korea, democratization program, and broadcasting propaganda to
North Korea △ Enhancement of support by the USA and the ROK for
North Korean defectors to settle in Korea △ Support for
settlement of North Korean defectors in Korea, including urging
for the earlier appointment of an ambassador-at-large for North
Korean Human Rights. |
| July
22. | The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea criticized
the ROK-US joint military exercises (homepage)
･ “America
and its followers have been gradually expanding the military
pressure aimed at the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It
is becoming a serious concern that the calamity of war 72 years
ago could swamp this territory again.”
･ “It’s obvious as
a fire that the US-ROK joint military exercises starting in late
August will be a practical drill aiming for a preemptive nuclear
strike toward us, like previous exercises.”
･ “When the
US and its followers want the military confrontation against us,
they must face tremendous security instability, which they have
never experienced up to now.” |
|
July 25. | The Ministry of
Unification sent an official letter to the National Assembly
requesting a recommendation for the Director of the North Korea
Human Rights Foundation.
･ “The Government stated the
launch of the North Korea Human Rights Foundation specified in
North Korean Human Rights Act in its national political agenda.
After the Ministry of Unification report to the President of the
ROK last Friday, the President requested efforts to be made for
the earlier launch of the North Korea Human Rights Foundation.”
･ “The Government planned to solve the humanitarian
difficulties and improve human rights of North Koreans based on
the functions of the Foundation specified in the Act by
establishing the Foundation as soon as possible after a
recommendation for the director by the National Assembly.” |
| July 26. | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea criticized the US-ROK
joint military exercises (homepage)
･ “The joint military
exercises started by America and its followers is one of the
basic factors aggravating the situations on the Korean
peninsula. As America exists on the Korean peninsula, peace can
never be secured.” |
| July
28. | The Supreme Leader Kim Jong
Un of North Korea delivered congratulatory remarks on the 69th
anniversary of Victory Day. (Korean Central News Agency· Rodong
Sinmun)
･ “Two-faced behaviors overtly starting the
large-scale joint military exercises must be a robber’s act as
it is, and it drives the North Korea-US relations to crash
situations, the threshold which can never be restored.”
･
“It is required to be ready for conversation and confrontation
to confidently secure the country's safety. In particular, we
clearly state more thorough readiness for confrontation.”
･ “The conservative government in South Korea seizing power this
year is driving the situations in the Korean peninsula nearly to
war, sticking to an atrocious fratricidal confrontation policy
and unpatriotic behaviors beyond any other conservative
governments.”
･ “South Korea should pay a corresponding
price if it continues such conduct raising military tensions and
threatening the safety of North Korea and interrupting the
exercise of our self-defense rights by robbery-like
theories.” |
