Tongsin | 통신 Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun on China № 02 , January 2014
February 2014
Edited by Morgan Potts with Research Assistance from Vikram Jones Introduction by Morgan Potts
Tongsin | 통신 is Sino-NK’s monthly analysis of North Korean media reporting on China.
January was a quiet month (at least compared to last December) punctuated by vociferous North Korean opposition to the upcoming US-ROK military exercises, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle. The DPRK National Defence Commission, North Korea’s highest guiding organ of the military, proposed that the ROK halt the planned exercises in favor of peaceful discussion with the North. The narrative presented by DPRK media is that South Korea’s participation in the war games is a hostile act against North Korea, and a rejection of the North’s attempts at peaceful reuni ication. This rhetoric was echoed in the press conference held by the DPRK permanent representative to the United Nations on January 24. Of course, the military exercises will go on—the stage is set for a nuclear test or similarly provocative move to follow, after which the North will claim to be acting defensively.
In the KCNA and Rodong Sinmun this month, reuni ication emerged as a central theme. China is brought into the narrative as a host for Koreans abroad who desire “patriotic reuni ication” under Kim Jong-un.
Rodong and the KCNA also reported on a variety of minor events and loral tributes this month. The Masik ski resort was praised by Chinese diplomats. Pyongyang was featured in Chinese travelogues as a “fresh” and “scenic” destination. Friendly Sino-DPRK relations were “strengthened” at various New Year celebrations. Anti-Japanese sentiment, shared with China, was re lected in the release of an anti-Japanese ilm screened in China, Chinese praise for an anti-Japanese martyr, and the discovery of documents in China pertaining to Japanese war crimes and sex slavery.
The authenticity of North Korea’s desire for peaceful talks and reuni ication is debatable. As the exercises go on as planned, the North will point to their failed efforts at peace talks and the following, “defensive" military action. The eventual Chinese reaction—and the DPRK’s counter-reaction—to North Korea’s military provocations are ones to be watched next month.
A note on spelling: titles are re lective of the original source; summaries and the romanizations contained therein are in accordance with Sino-NK’s in-house style guide.
COVER IMAGE: DANCE PERFORMANCE AT KOREAN NEW YEAR (JUCHE 103), IMAGE FROM JANUARY 22, 2014 | KCNA
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 2 January 2014
KIM JONG-IL DEPICTED ON MT. PAEKTU | RODONG SINMUN
January 1
KCNA: DPRK’s Fine Art Introduced by Chinese Paper Huanqiu Shibao had an article containing DPRK artwork of Kim Jong-il. The article praised how it represented North Korean national identity and the quality of the artwork. The pictures often portray bravery and warfare and the paintings are very attractive amongst foreigners as the art is “clear about the characteristics of the times.”
January 4
KCNA: Korean Organization in China Calls for Dynamic Patriotic Action for National Reuni ication Cha Sang-bo, Vice-Chairman of the General Association of Koreans in China issued a statement that called for a concerted action by 70 million Koreans to unite behind Kim Jong-un and push for patriotic reuni ication. The statement is characteristically vague.
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 3 Rodong: Foreigners in Chongjin Pay Floral Tribute to Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il Members of the Russian and Chinese consulate generals in Chingjin City visited portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un on New Year’s Day. Other Chinese people also paid tribute.
January 7
KCNA: Koreans in China Call for Opening New Phase for Reuni ication A spokesman for the Zhongnan Regional Association of the General Association of Koreans in China announced a statement supporting Kim Jong-un’s New Year’s speech that moved for better relations between the North and the South. They hope that this could lead to talks on reuni ication. The statement praises Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-un.
January 8
KCNA: Koreans in China Urge S. Korean Authorities to Make Correct Option The statement criticizes the South Koreans for being confrontational in the face of Kim Jong-un’s progressive New Year’s statement. The statement urges the South to make good on their ever-present calls for improving relations between the North and South.
January 13
KCNA and Rodong: Kimilsungia Awarded Special Prize at Int’l Expo in China Kimilsungia, the lower of the sun, was awarded top prize at the 8th China International Orchid Exposition. Horticulturists were fascinated by the plant and the award was presented to the Korean representative. The mayor of Sanya praised the plant, which is named after Kim Il-sung.
January 15 & 16
KCNA and Rodong: Chinese Paper Introduces Korean Film Heilongjiang Xinwen introduced “The Flower Girl” on January 9. The ilm is based on a book by Kim Il-sung during the anti-Japanese struggles and Kim Jong-il guided the work to be “ ilmized” in the 1970s. The ilm drew huge audience in China and was highly praised.
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 4 January 17
Rodong: Diplomats, Representatives of Int'l Bodies and Military Attaches Visit Masikryong Ski Resort Various diplomats visited the Masikryong Ski Resort and it is state of the art. The Chinese Ambassador Liu Hongcai stated that the resort was a treasure of the Korean people. He stated that the resort would encourage the Korean people to build a thriving nation and improve the standard of living. Sheng Li, the military attaché of the Chinese embassy, praised the resort, voicing his will to develop friendship between “the parties, armies and peoples of the two countries.”
“REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL BODIES AND MILITARY ATTACHES VISIT MASIKRYONG SKI RESORT”, JANUARY 17, 2014 | RODONG SINMUN
January 18
KCNA: Pyongyang Introduced by Chinese Daily On January 14 the Chinese paper printed a travelogue article on the DPRK. The article lavishes praise onto the DPRK describing the scenery as “fresh” and praises the architecture and facilities of Pyongyang.
January 21
KCNA: DPRK-China Joint Art Performance Marks Spring Festival The joint art performance as given at the Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory concert hall. Amongst the attendees were Kang Ha-guk, Minister of Public Health who is chairman of the Central Committee of the Korea-China Friendship Association, and Ambassador Liu Hongcai. Speeches were made by of icials and the show was a success. The inal number ended with the chorus “DPRK-China friendship will last forever”.
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 5 “FRIENDLY MEETING HELD” ON THE OCCASION OF THE NEW YEAR JUCHE 103 | KCNA
January 22
KCNA: Friendly Meeting Held Chinese Ambassador to the DPRK, Liu Hongcai, arranged a friendly meeting on the occasion of New Year Juche 103. Present was Kim Jin-bom and Ri Sun-chol as well as members of the Chinese embassy. After speeches were made, various performances were given, strengthening friendly relations between the Chinese and the DPRK.
KCNA: Kim Jong Un Receives Floral Basket from Chinese Art Troupe Kim Jong-un received a loral basket from Jilin Provincial Song and Dance Ensemble of China during their visit to the DPRK. Kim Jong-un was presented with the same gift from Li Baofeng, the curator of the Baofeng Art Museum in Jilin.
January 23 & 24
Rodong: DPRK-China Joint Art Performance Marks Spring Festival The joint art performance as given at the concert hall of Pyongyang Kim Won Gyun Conservatory. Amongst the attendees were Kang Ha-guk, Minister of Public Health who also doubles up as chairman of the Central Committee of the Korea-China Friendship Association and Ambassador Liu Hongcai. Speeches were made by
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 6 of icials and the show was a success. The inal number ended with the chorus “DPRK-China friendship will last forever”.
KIM JONG-UN RECEIVES FLORAL BASKET FROM CHINESE ART TROUPE, JANUARY 22, 2014 | KCNA
KCNA and Rodong: Masikryong Ski Resort Introduced by Chinese Media A TV broadcasting channel and website in China introduced the Masikryong Ski Resort on Januray 16. The report included a picture of Kim Jong-un giving ield guidance to it. Both Global Times and Xinhua carried articles about the resort.
KCNA and Rodong: DPRK-China Joint Friendship Meeting Held The 2014 Lunar New Year’s friendship meeting took place at the DPRK-China Friendship Thaekam Cooperative Farm in the Sunan District. Present was Kim Jin- bom, Hong Kwang-ung and Liu Hongcai. Those present laid lowers at the feet of the monument, following the instructions of Kim Il-sung. Liu Hongcai made a speech committing China to future endeavors with South Korea and Kim Jin-bom wished the Chinese great success, an art performance by the Jilin Provincial Song and Dance Ensemble followed. An aid certi icate was given to the farm in the name of the Chinese embassy.
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 7 “DPRK-CHINA JOINT FRIENDSHIP MEETING HELD”, JANUARY 24, 2014 | RODONG SINMUN
January 27
KCNA: Chinese Ambassador Hosts Friendship Meeting Liu Hongcai hosted a friendship meeting with of icials from the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK on the occasion of New Juche 103. Present were members of the Chinese embassy as well as Vice Foreign Minister of the DPRK Kim Hyong-jun and other of icials. The meeting consisted of discussions about the need to develop friendships between the two countries.
Rodong: An Jung Gun, Anti-Japanese Patriotic Martyr (1) The article notes that a ceremony was recently held at the house of the martyr An Jung-gun in Heilongjiang Province, China to remember his deeds against the Japanese. The article goes on to narrate his patriotic deeds. Part 2 details the support An has received for his heroic actions.
January 29
KCNA: DPRK’s Crucial Proposal Supported by Overseas Korean An article was posted on Paektu-Halla, the website of the General Association of Koreans in China, by a Korean in China in support of the crucial proposal of the DPRK National Defence Commission.
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 8 January 29
KCNA: Data on Japan’s Sexual Slavery Discovered in China Thirty-two documents regarding Japanese sexual slavery were discovered in Jilin Province, China. They included a monthly report on the military police and restoring public order around Nanjing. The documents were written by the Imperial Japanese Army in the war against the Chinese. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consulate in China were directly involved in sexual slavery and they mobilized the police and soldiers to abduct women. The new documents irrefutably demonstrate that around 200,000 Korean woman were forced to become sexual slaves. Japan must apologize for their actions.
Rodong: Chinese Ambassador Hosts Friendship Meeting Liu Hongcai hosted a friendship meeting with of icials from the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK on the occasion of New Juche 103. Present were members of the Chinese embassy as well as Vice Foreign Minister of the DPRK Kim Hyong-jun and other of icials. The meeting consisted of discussions about the need to develop friendships between the two countries.
January 30
KCNA: Crucial Proposal, Open Letter of NDC of DPRK Supported by Koreans in China The National Defence Commission of the DPRK had sent an open letter to the authorities calling for the end of “provoking and slandering each other” to improve North-South relations. The Shenyang City branch of the General Association of Koreans in China issued a statement on the January 27 supporting this proposal. They call for the South to stop provocative military drills and they believe that all Koreans in China will turn out as one to support the DPRK in their nationwide struggle to reunify Korea.
! Sino-NK Tongsin | 통신 № 02, January 2014 | 9 ABOUT SINO-NK
Founded in December 2011 by a group of young academics committed to the study and analysis of Northeast Asia, Sino-NK focuses on the borderland world that lies somewhere between Pyongyang and Beijing. Using multiple languages and an array of disciplinary methodologies, Sino-NK provides a steady stream of China-DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea/North Korea) documentation and analysis covering the culture, economies and foreign relations of these complex states.
Work published on Sino-NK has been cited in such standard journalistic outlets as The Economist, International Herald Tribune, and Wall Street Journal, and our analysts have been featured in a range of other publications. Ultimately, Sino-NK seeks to function as a bridge between the ubiquitous North Korea media discourse and a more specialized world, that of the academic think tank debates that swirl around the DPRK and its immense neighbor.
SINO-NK STAFF
Editor-in-Chief Coordinator ADAM CATHCART ROGER CAVAZOS
Co-Editor Director of Research CHRISTOPHER GREEN ROBERT WINSTANLEY-CHESTERS
Managing Editor Outreach Coordinator STEVEN DENNEY SHERRI TER MOLEN
Assistant Editors Media Coordinator DARCIE DRAUDT MYCAL FORD MORGAN POTTS Research Coordinator SABINE VAN AMEIJDEN
www.sinonk.com
The work of Sino-NK is released under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
!