NK weekly-domestic news
Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.
------------
N. Korea's Kim inspects production of tactical guided weapons at munitions factory
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected the production of tactical guided weapons at a munitions factory, instructing officials to expand production capacity by 2 1/2 times, state media reported Sunday.
Kim visited a major munitions factory the previous day and toured its technologically updated production areas to inspect the state of its modernization, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said without revealing the factory's exact location or name.
------------
N. Korea's Kim inspects construction of memorial for soldiers killed in Ukraine war
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the construction site of a memorial for the North's soldiers killed in Russia's war against Ukraine, hailing their sacrifice as an "eternal cornerstone" for Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday.
Kim "visited the construction site of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations" in Pyongyang the previous day and dug the first shovelful of earth for the museum's tree planting, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
------------
N. Korea's Kim inspects construction of memorial for soldiers killed in Ukraine war
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the construction site of a memorial for the North's soldiers killed in Russia's war against Ukraine, hailing their sacrifice as an "eternal cornerstone" for Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday.
Kim "visited the construction site of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations" in Pyongyang the previous day and dug the first shovelful of earth for the museum's tree planting, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
------------
N. Korea's Kim inspects construction of memorial for soldiers killed in Ukraine war
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the construction site of a memorial for the North's soldiers killed in Russia's war against Ukraine, hailing their sacrifice as an "eternal cornerstone" for Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday.
Kim "visited the construction site of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations" in Pyongyang the previous day and dug the first shovelful of earth for the museum's tree planting, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
------------
N. Korea accuses Japan of reinvasion plotting over record-high defense budget
SEOUL -- North Korea on Tuesday bristled at Japan's allocation of its biggest-ever annual defense budget this year, accusing Tokyo of plotting to revive its militaristic past.
The Rodong Sinmun, the North's most widely circulated newspaper, issued the criticism while referring to Japan's allocation of 9.04 trillion yen (US$57.7 billion) for this year's defense spending, a record figure primarily aimed at strengthening the country's strike-back capabilities and coastal defense.
------------
N. Korea touts achievements in 'rural revolution' ahead of key party congress
SEOUL -- North Korea on Wednesday hailed the country's endeavors in achieving a "rural revolution" as the regime is set to hold the ninth party congress early this year.
The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper, carried the report, praising the construction of farm villages as an "immortal journey" that has stood out prominently over the past five years.
------------
Pyongyang's state media silent on birthday of N. Korea's Kim
SEOUL -- North Korea's state media has remained silent on the birthday of leader Kim Jong-un, believed to fall on Thursday, instead focusing on reporting the nation's preparations for the upcoming key party congress.
North Korea has not officially announced Kim's birthday, known to be Jan. 8, for special celebrations, though the birthdays of late state founder Kim Il-sung and former leader Kim Jong-il have been marked as national holidays.
------------
N. Korea urges heightened discipline, loyalty among officials ahead of party congress
SEOUL -- North Korea on Thursday urged officials to strengthen work discipline and loyalty to the regime ahead of an upcoming key party congress, calling it a "highly responsible" occasion in which their qualifications will be scrutinized.
"Officials need to honorably face the party congress with proud achievements from their devoted service to the people," read the headline of an article carried by the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper, on Thursday.
------------
N. Korea stresses importance of designating leader's successor in party magazine
SEOUL -- A North Korean party magazine stressed the importance of designating the state leader's successor in a publication in March last year, shortly before leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae, resumed public appearances following a brief hiatus.
Amid speculation that Ju-ae is being groomed as Kim's potential successor, the publication has gained attention as it may have been aimed at setting the stage for the ruling family's third hereditary transfer of power.
------------
N. Korea's Kim vows 'permanent' support for Putin's policies
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged "permanent" support for policies by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the North's state media reported Friday, as Pyongyang and Moscow have reinforced their military cooperation.
"I will unconditionally respect and unconditionally support all your policies and decisions and I have a willingness to be always with you for the sake of you and your Russia," Kim told Putin in a letter sent to the Russian leader,according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
------------
N. Korea's Kim congratulates Lao president on reelection as party chief
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has congratulated Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on his recent reelection as chief of the ruling party, state media reported Friday.
Kim delivered the greeting in a message the previous day after the Lao president was reelected as general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party's central committee at a party congress that concluded the same day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
------------
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
