Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

NK weekly-domestic news

Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.

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Xi tells N. Korea's Kim that China is ready to strengthen strategic cooperation on int'l issues

SEOUL -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has told North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that China is ready to solidify strategic cooperation on international and regional issues, the North's state media reported Sunday.

Xi reaffirmed the Chinese commitment in a message sent to Kim on Thursday in response to the North Korean leader's congratulatory telegram for the 76th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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Premiers of N. Korea, China hold talks in Pyongyang

SEOUL -- North Korea's Premier Pak Thae-song has held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with Pak voicing support for Beijing's policies on Taiwan and other core national interests, the North's state media reported Sunday.

The meeting took place Saturday as Li was visiting Pyongyang to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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N. Korea's Kim pays respects at family mausoleum for party founding anniversary

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun family mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), state media said Monday.

Kim, "who organized and guided the grand celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the WPK in a responsible manner, respectfully presented the great glory won by the party and state to the great leaders," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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N. Korea's Kim says national potential fully showcased in party anniversary events

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has watched a mass gymnastic and art performance with people who helped host recent celebrations marking a party anniversary, saying they demonstrated the country's "potentials and might."

Kim watched the performance, titled "Long Live the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)," the previous day, congratulating those who participated in and worked on the recent celebration events for the party's 80th anniversary, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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High-profile chief of N.K.'s abolished body appears to retain director title

SEOUL -- Ri Son-gwon, director of North Korea's now-abolished United Front Department (UFD), which handled affairs with South Korea, appears to have retained his director title even after the organ's dissolution, a North Korean report showed Monday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Ri delivered a speech at a banquet for overseas North Koreans the previous day marking the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), addressing him as "comrade director of the WPK's Central Committee."

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N. Korean Embassy in Russia hosts banquet marking ruling party anniversary

SEOUL -- The North Korean Embassy in Russia has hosted a banquet marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), attended by key Russian parliamentary and government officials, state media reported Tuesday.

The gathering took place last Thursday, attended by North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol and a number of Russian officials, including Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation; Ivan Melnikov, first vice chairman of the State Duma; and Deputy Defense Minister Andrey Bulyga, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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Delegation from N. Korea's electric industry ministry departs for Russia: KCNA

SEOUL, Oct. 14 (Yonhap) -- A delegation from North Korea's electric industry ministry has departed Pyongyang for Russia to attend a global energy forum, state media reported Tuesday.

The delegation, led by Minister Kim Yu-il, left Pyongyang the previous day en route to Russia to attend the Russian Energy Week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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N. Korea's art performance marking party anniv. apparently features K-pop elements

SEOUL -- North Korea's recent art performance to mark its key party anniversary featured elements apparently influenced by K-pop and other outside culture, footage from the North's state-run TV station has showed.

Footage aired by the state-run Korean Central Television showed a North Korean female singer with a "bowl haircut" performing a group dance in sync with background dancers during an art performance held Sunday marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea.

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Russian delegation arrives in Pyongyang for joint committee meeting on economic cooperation

SEOUL -- A delegation from Russia's industry and trade ministry has arrived in Pyongyang to attend a meeting of the joint committee on economy and trade cooperation between the two countries, the North's state media reported Thursday.

The forestry-sector delegation, led by Grigory Gusev, deputy director of the industry and trade ministry's timber industry department, arrived in the country via Pyongyang International Airport the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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N. Korea's Kim vows to bolster bilateral ties in message to China's Xi

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to further strengthen the North's relations with China in his letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, state media reported Friday.

Kim delivered the message Thursday, expressing his thanks for Xi's recent letter sent to celebrate the North's 80th anniversary on Oct. 10 of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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