Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

NK weekly-domestic news

Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

SEOUL, Feb. 16 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.

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N. Korea urges loyalty for Kim Jong-un on late leader's birthday

SEOUL -- North Korea praised leader Kim Jong-un and called for loyalty as the country marked the 82nd birthday of Kim's late father and former leader Kim Jong-il on Friday.

In an editorial, the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, lauded the late leader as a "patriot" who established the foundation for national dignity and prosperity and said such feats have been inherited by the current leader.

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(LEAD) Kim's sister says N. Korea open to better ties with Japan

SEOUL -- The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday said the regime is open to improving its relationship with Japan, including inviting the Japanese leader to Pyongyang.

Kim Yo-jong's remark came after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a speech last week that he feels a "strong need" to change the current relationship between Tokyo and Pyongyang, and that he is currently making related activities.

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(LEAD) N.K. leader calls for using force against S. Korean vessels violating its waters

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for using force against South Korean vessels violating its waters, state media said Thursday, amid concern the North could undertake provocations in the coming months.

The North has long accused the South of violating its waters because the country does not recognize the current de facto sea border, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL), and claims a self-drawn boundary south of the NLL.

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(2nd LD) N.K. leader oversees test-fire of new surface-to-sea missile

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised the test-firing of a new surface-to-sea missile and ordered a tighter defense posture near the western maritime border, state media reported Thursday.

North Korea test-launched the new missile, named Padasuri-6, on Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. A day earlier, South Korea's military said the North fired several cruise missiles off the eastern port city of Wonsan.

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N. Korea threatens U.S. envoy for N.K. human rights with insulting remarks

SEOUL -- North Korea on Thursday released a barrage of harsh-worded insults against the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights who is visiting Asia on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of a landmark U.N. report on the North's rights abuses.

The U.S. State Department earlier said Ambassador Julie Turner would visit South Korea and Japan from Monday through Feb. 22. Her visit came on the 10th anniversary of the release of the 2014 U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on the North's human rights violations.

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(LEAD) N. Korea fires several cruise missiles off east coast: JCS

SEOUL -- North Korea fired several cruise missiles off the east coast Wednesday, the South Korean military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched at around 9 a.m. into waters northeast of Wonsan on the east coast. It did not specify the number of missiles.

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N. Korea discusses follow-up measures to improve regional economy

SEOUL -- North Korea's provincial committees have discussed measures to carry out the national policy of developing regional economies, state media said Tuesday, amid worsening inequality in the North's capital and rural areas.

The respective committees held enlarged plenary meetings to discuss measures to "establish realistic goals corresponding to regional traits" and "improve provincial economy in multilateral and distinctive ways," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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N. Korea's ruling party delegation visiting Russia for int'l forum

SEOUL -- A delegation of North Korea's ruling party officials have left for Russia to attend an international forum, state media reported Tuesday, amid deepening bilateral cooperation in the military and other sectors.

Kim Su-gil, alternate member of the political bureau of the Workers' Party, and other delegates departed Pyongyang on Monday for a trip to Russia at the invitation of Russia's ruling United Russia party, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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(LEAD) N. Korea says it newly developed shells for multiple rocket launcher

SEOUL -- North Korea said Monday it has newly developed controllable shells for a multiple rocket launcher and its ballistic control system as part of its push to expand its weapons arsenal.

The Academy of Defence Science conducted a test firing of 240 mm-caliber controllable multiple rocket launcher shells on Sunday in a bid to evaluate their accuracy and prove their advantages, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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