Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

NK weekly-domestic news

Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.

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N. Korea set to convene 1st session of new Supreme People's Assembly

SEOUL -- North Korea is set to hold the first session of its new Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) on Sunday amid attention on whether the regime will codify its hostile policy toward South Korea in its constitution.

The parliamentary session comes after new deputies were selected following last month's Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

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N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairs at Supreme People's Assembly

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was reappointed as president of the state affairs commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) after last month's ruling party congress, state media reported Monday.

Kim was reappointed president of the state affairs commission on the first day of the first session of the 15th SPA, the Korean Central New Agency (KCNA) said.

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Putin congratulates N.K.'s Kim on reelection, voices hope for closer ties

SEOUL -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his reelection as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, expressing hope for stronger bilateral relations, the Kremlin said Monday.

According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Kim was reappointed to the highest post of the commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly held on Sunday.

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N. Korea's Kim formally calls S. Korea 'most hostile' nation

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un formally called South Korea the "most hostile state" and warned of merciless consequences if provoked, the North's state media reported Tuesday.

South Korea "is officially designated as the most hostile nation," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying on the second and final day of the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly.

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N. Korea to introduce police system in apparent bid to project itself as normal state

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has unveiled a plan to introduce a police system in what might be a bid to shed its image as a reclusive country, where public security forces have traditionally carried out policing roles.

The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) will review the introduction of the "police system" at a future session, Kim said Monday on the second and final day of the first session of the newly elected 15th SPA, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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Belarus leader Lukashenko to visit N. Korea: KCNA

SEOUL -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit North Korea at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the North's state media reported Tuesday.

The North's Korean Central News Agency did not say when the Belarusian leader would visit Pyongyang, but Russia's state news agency TASS reported, citing a Telegram channel close to Lukashenko's press service, that the visit would take place on March 25-26.

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N. Korea's Kim thanks Putin for congratulating him on reelection as president of state affairs

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed his gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for congratulating him on his reelection as president of state affairs, voicing hope for continued strong ties between the two nations, state media reported Wednesday.

Kim made the remarks in a reply message to Putin the previous day after he was reelected as president of state affairs on Sunday at the first meeting of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It marked his third consecutive term since the nation's top policy guidance body was created in 2016.

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N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday events

SEOUL -- North Korea on Wednesday announced an annual springtime festival marking late state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in April but avoided calling the anniversary by its reverent name, the "Day of the Sun."

The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be staged in Pyongyang to mark the 114th anniversary of the late state founder's birthday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday on April 15.

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N. Korea's Kim welcomes Belarusian President Lukashenko in Pyongyang: KCNA

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang, as the Belarusian leader made his first official visit to the North, according to the North's state media Thursday.

The ceremony to welcome Lukashenko took place at Kim Il Sung Square on Wednesday as he arrived in Pyongyang for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the North's leader, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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N. Korea, Belarus hold summit, sign friendship treaty: KCNA

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held summit talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang and signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation, the North's state media reported Friday.

Lukashenko, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had made a two-day official visit to North Korea at the invitation of Kim, and reportedly said bilateral ties between Pyongyang and Minsk were upgraded to a "new stage."

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China's Xi sends congratulatory letter to N. Korea's Kim on reelection as president of state affairs: KCNA

SEOUL -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his reelection as president of the State Affairs Commission, the North's state media reported Friday.

Xi delivered the message Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, adding that the Chinese leader reaffirmed Beijing's "unwavering" policy to safeguard, solidify and advance bilateral ties.

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