Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

NK weekly-domestic news

Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.

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N. Korea holds funeral for ex-propaganda chief Kim Ki-nam

SEOUL -- North Korea has held a state funeral for Kim Ki-nam, known as the master of propaganda operations for the North's ruling family, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, state media said Friday.

The former secretary of the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party died at the age of 94 on Tuesday due to age-related illness and multiple organ failure, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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(LEAD) N. Korean leader voices 'firm support' in his message to Putin over Victory Day

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Victory Day, expressing his "firm support and solidarity" with Moscow, state media reported Thursday.

Kim extended his "warm congratulations and comradely greetings" to Putin in the message celebrating the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union's World War II victory over Nazi Germany, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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(LEAD) N. Korean leader congratulates Putin on inauguration

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin for formally starting his fifth term as Moscow's leader, state media said Wednesday, amid deepening military cooperation between the two nations.

Putin began his fifth term Tuesday, extending his 24-year rule for another six years after winning a landslide victory in Russia's election in March.

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(LEAD) N. Korea's ex-propaganda chief Kim Ki-nam dies at 94: KCNA

SEOUL -- Kim Ki-nam, known as the master of propaganda operations for North Korea's ruling Kim family, has died at 94, Pyongyang's state media said Wednesday.

The former secretary of the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party (WPK) died Tuesday after suffering multiple organ failures since April 2022, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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N. Korea promotes maternity protection policy amid low birthrate

SEOUL -- North Korea on Tuesday promoted its maternity protection policy amid its low birthrate, saying the country provides pregnant women with pre-and post-natal care services 11 times.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said the country held an event to mark the International Day of the Midwife at the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital the previous day.

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(LEAD) N. Korean minister says Pyongyang ready to cooperate with Iranian carmaker Saipa

SEOUL -- North Korea's external economic relations minister has expressed intent for his country's cooperation with Iranian automaker Saipa during a recent rare trip to Tehran.

Yun Jong-ho made the remark as he visited a booth run by Iran's second-largest automaker at a trade show in Tehran during his 10-day stay in Iran, according to posts shared on the company's Instagram account on April 29.

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N. Korea's premier calls for enhancing irrigation amid food shortages

SEOUL -- North Korea's premier has inspected regional farms and called for enhancing an irrigation system to cope with droughts and heat waves, state media reported Tuesday, amid the country's chronic food shortages.

Premier Kim Tok-hun visited farms in the South Pyongan, North Hwanghae and Jagang provinces and checked the agricultural situation, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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N.K. leader calls on public security officials to 'firmly defend' state unity

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on neighborhood police chiefs to "firmly defend" the country's unity, state media reported Monday, in an apparent effort to tighten the country's grip on social discipline.

Kim made the call as he held a photo session with participants of a national conference of the heads of branch public security stations on Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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