NK weekly-domestic news

Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.

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N. Korea slams Japan-U.S. military drills as 'war rehearsal'

SEOUL -- North Korea on Monday condemned the ongoing joint military exercise between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Forces and the United States Marine Corps, labeling it "a war rehearsal."

In an editorial carried Monday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea criticized Japan for participating in the Resolute Dragon exercise, accusing it of sharpening its "invasion capability."

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N. Korea's port activity jumps fivefold since 2019, suggesting illicit coal trade: report

SEOUL -- Commercial vessel activity at North Korea's ports has surged fivefold since 2019, a report said Tuesday, raising fresh suspicions of illegal coal trading.

The report, co-published by the Seoul-based Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights and British research group Data Desk, tracked vessels longer than 80 meters at North Korea's five major ports -- Nampho, Chongjin, Wonsan, Rason and Kimchaek. Recorded activity climbed to 3,756 cases last year, up from 783 in 2019.

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N. Korea's Kim vows strong ties with China on founding anniv. of Chinese Communist Party

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has marked the 105th founding anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, reaffirming his commitment to strengthen ties with Beijing, state media reported Wednesday.

"There is no new China without Communist Party. This is the truth the Chinese people have realized while advancing under its guidance for many years," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying.

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N. Korea highlights feats during Korean War ahead of anniv. of armistice signing

SEOUL -- North Korea on Thursday highlighted its military achievements during the 1950-53 Korean War in a move seen as aimed at bolstering the regime's unity ahead of the 73rd anniversary of the armistice signing.

The Korean War, which started with an invasion by the North, ended with the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. North Korea celebrates the armistice signing date as "Victory Day" in what it calls the Great Fatherland Liberation War.

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