Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

NK weekly-domestic news

Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

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

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N. Korea's Kim cites 'upsurge' in national development on 3rd day of key party congress

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un cited a new era of "upsurge" in national development as he reported work by the North's ruling party on the third day of its ninth congress, state media reported Sunday.

Kim delivered the report to the ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea the previous day as the congress entered its third day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim reelected as general secretary of ruling party for reinforcing nuclear power

SEOUL -- North Korea's ruling party reelected Kim Jong-un as its general secretary at the ongoing party congress, touting the rapid improvement of the country's nuclear-based war deterrence under his leadership, state media said Monday.

"The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) decides to elect Kim Jong-un as general secretary of the WPK ... for the development of the WPK and the prosperity of the state," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing the "unshakable" will of party members, the people and soldiers.

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N. Korea's parliamentary chief, other seniors excluded from list of party central committee members

SEOUL -- Choe Ryong-hae, the 76-year-old chairman of the North Korean parliament who once served as the top military leader, has been excluded from members of the country's ruling party central committee, along with other senior officials, signaling a major generational shift in leadership.

Choe, party secretary Pak Jong-chon, party adviser for defense Ri Pyong-chol and other senior officials were not included in a new list of members of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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N. Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong promoted to party department head at congress

SEOUL -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong, has been promoted to department head at the ruling Workers' Party of Korea during the ongoing party congress, state media reported Tuesday.

The Korean Central News Agency published a press release from the first plenary meeting of the ninth central committee of the ruling party, naming Kim Yo-jong as one of the 17 department directors of the party's new central committee.

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N. Korea's Kim says no shifting environment can deter country's progress at party congress

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the country's progress would not be deterred by any changes in the security environment at the ongoing party congress, state media reported Tuesday.

But he did not issue any message to South Korea or the United States despite their continued overtures to resume dialogue, in a possible sign that the North may leave room for a policy shift amid the fluid international situation.

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Russia says Moscow, Pyongyang jointly 'safeguarding' world from enemy

SEOUL -- A Russian official praised Moscow-Pyongyang relations, saying they are "safeguarding" world justice against an enemy at a banquet in Pyongyang hosted by the Russian Embassy, a North Korean newspaper reported Tuesday.

"(North Korea and Russia) are safeguarding the world's peace and justice in opposition to their common enemy," the Rodong Sinmun newspaper quoted Russian Defense Attache Alexei Bartusov as saying at a banquet hosted by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang the previous day.

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N. Korea discusses draft proposals of 5-yr policy goals at key congress

SEOUL -- North Korea's ongoing party congress discussed five-year plans and goals for key sectors, including national defense and foreign affairs, on the sixth day of the party gathering, state media reported Wednesday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, "Study and consultative meetings in various fields," including the economy and party work, were held the previous day at the congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

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N. Korean media glorify leader Kim as 'greatest man in world' after reelection as party chief

SEOUL -- North Korean state media on Wednesday launched a glorification campaign for leader Kim Jong-un following his recent reelection to the highest party post, calling him the "greatest man in the world" and describing his leadership as tantamount to a "miracle."

"The entire people across the country were moved by endless excitement and exaltation" over Kim's reelection, said an article carried by the Rodong Sinmun, the most widely read newspaper published by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

N. Korea's Kim visits family mausoleum with newly elected party officials after congress

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a mausoleum for his late grandfather and father with newly elected party officials after the country wrapped up a key party congress, state media reported Friday.

Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous day with newly-elected members of the central leadership of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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(2nd LD) N. Korea's Kim warns of 'terrible' retaliation against hostile military acts at military parade

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has warned that "terrible retaliatory attacks" will be carried out against any force that commits hostile military acts against his country during a military parade marking a key party congress, state media reported Thursday.

Kim made the remarks at the nighttime parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Wednesday as the high-profile ruling party gathering drew to a close that day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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(LEAD) N. Korea's Kim says willing to get along with U.S. if Washington drops hostile policy

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said Pyongyang has no reason not to get along with the United States if Washington withdraws its hostile policy against the North, but rejected Seoul's overtures for talks as "deceptive," according to the North's state media Thursday.

Kim made the remarks during a policy review session held Friday-Saturday at the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, which concluded its weeklong run the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

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