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| (Pyongyang Labor News = News 1) = North Korean Labor Party general secretary Kim Jong-un. [국내에서만 사용가능. 재배포 금지. DB 금지. For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. Redistribution Prohibited] [email protected] |
Since last month’s external criticism statement and armed demonstrations, North Korea has been moving quietly without further provocations. Nevertheless,’presence’ continues to emerge with the declaration of absence from the Olympics.
According to the analysis of the Korean government’s labor newspaper and South Korean military authorities, North Korea has not engaged in adversarial actions or missile provocations for more than ten days since the launch of a short-range ballistic missile (a new tactical guided missile) on the 25th of last month. The discourse offensive targeting Korea and the United States, which started with Labor Vice President Kim Yeo-jeong, also disappeared this month.
North Korea instead focused on internal issues. The Labor Newspaper, which highlighted the “passionate movements” of Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un, who cared for the economy and people’s livelihood, recently published an article calling for the achievement of achievements in each sector of the people’s economy for economic development and the construction of Pyongyang homes (housing) every day.
In line with the new five-year national economic development proposed by the party this year, an article introduced the sectors and enterprises that exceeded the first quarter target. In addition, it created an atmosphere of ‘fall’ by stating that units that carried out exemplary people’s economic plans were awarded a joint itinerary of victory, a citation, and the No. 26 Exemplary Honorary Award.
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| (Pyongyang Labor Newspaper = News 1) = The Labor Newspaper, an agency of the North Korean Labor Party, unveiled a propaganda line that drives the construction of 50,000 households in Pyongyang. The slogan is written, “Let’s create a new Pyongyang speed and construction myth with the power of great military unity!” [국내에서만 사용가능. 재배포 금지. DB 금지. For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. Redistribution Prohibited] [email protected] |
North Korea also strengthened ideology education in April, when Taeyangjeol (the birthday of President Kim Il-sung) was celebrated. Introducing President Kim Il-sung’s past achievements and raising the atmosphere of commemoration for him. Despite emergency quarantine against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), the ‘Sunday Celebration National Troops Sports Contest-2021’ was held and the attention of the residents was turned into the attention of the residents.
In addition, there are no indications related to the’special measures’ toward South Korea, which Vice Minister Kim warned, while North Korea emphasized internal projects.
Han-beom Cho, a senior research fellow at the Unification Policy Research Center at the Institute for National Unification, pointed out that North Korea’s quiet move was “because he used litmus test papers,” such as launching ballistic missiles. Unlike cruise missiles, ballistic missiles are a violation of the resolution of the UN Security Council, and a warning from US President Joe Biden has already been issued.
Commissioner Cho said, “(North Korea) showed the pressure and presence they wanted at the final stage of the US policy toward North Korea,” he said. “It is looking at the position of the United States, and for the time being, we will observe and observe this situation.”
In this context, North Korea’s intention to abstain from the Tokyo Olympics, confirmed late on the 6th, can also be analyzed as a move to highlight’presence’.
North Korea said it would not participate in the Tokyo Olympics in consideration of the Corona 19 situation. It was a decision that was discussed at the video conference of the Olympic Committee held on the 25th of last month, but the announcement was postponed for more than ten days, and only on that day was released through the’Chosun Sports’ website.
On the surface, Corona 19 is the reason for the absence, but from the perspective of the government, which expected to expand the contact surface with North Korea through the Tokyo Olympics, like the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018, the North Korean decision is still an external’distance. ‘It must be interpreted as maintaining the tone.
Previously, North Korea declared that the ROK and the United States must change their attitudes in order to resume dialogue. The decision to absent from the Olympic Games is interpreted as reflecting North Korea’s position to focus on internal matters, while blocking even the’room’ for external dialogue.