London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Report on 9th Enlarged Plenum of 8th WPK Central Committee

Sourced from KCNA.KP. The overseas North Koreans provided additional analysis on Twitter. Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA): The Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), the great guide of our country and people, has defended the eternal vitality of socialism, the ideal and future of mankind, and vigorously led its steady development, while confirming the validity of the … [Read More]

Report on 4th Plenary Meeting of 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea

The end-of-year report from the Party plenary meeting, sourced from Rodong Sinmun and knca.kp. NKNews has alternative takes on the report: “North Korea vows military buildup due to ‘destabilizing’ situation on peninsula” and also “Plenum’s agriculture focus suggests dire food shortages in North Korea” Let Us Strive for Our Great State’s Prosperity and Development and … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2021 New Year letter

Kim Jong Un’s 2021 New Year message is simple and brief, taking the form of a hand-written letter to his people. Below is the official release sourced from the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The Rodong Sinmun has also posted on its website a facsimile of the letter, and an image of Kim Jong … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2020 New Year message

Notes of a speech given by Chairman Kim Jong Un at the Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea serves as this year’s New Year address. Text sourced from dprktoday.com Report on 5th Plenary Meeting of 7th C.C., WPK​ Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) — The 5th Plenary Meeting of the … [Read More]

DPRK Revolutionary Poster Art Exhibition

The UK Korean Friendship (part of the worldwide Korean Friendship Association with over 17,000 members around the world) is holding its second DPRK revolutionary poster exhibition on the 27th and 28th of April at the 5th Base Gallery in East London The exhibition is on a slightly larger scale than last year. There will be … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2019 New Year Address

The following is the text of Kim Jong Un’s 2019 New Year Address, sourced from Rodong Sinmun: New Year Address of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un for 2019 Respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un made the New Year Address for 2019. The full text of the New Year Address reads: Dear people and service personnel … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2018 New Year Address

The following is the text of Kim Jong Un’s 2018 New Year Address, sourced from Rodong Sinmun: Respected Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un made the New Year Address for 2018. The full text of the New Year Address reads: Dear fellow countrymen and brave service personnel of the People’s Army, Dear compatriots, Today, recollecting with … [Read More]

Event news: Pro-DPRK protest outside US embassy

As spring arrives, so do the annual US-ROK joint military exercises. As last year, there will be a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square to protest about the exercises and against the sanctions regime. It will be held 4pm-6pm on Saturday 4 March and is jointly organised by Juche London, the Korea Friendship … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2017 New Year Address

The following is the text of Kim Jong Un’s 2017 New Year Address, sourced from Rodong Sinmun: Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, made his address on the New Year, Juche 106 (2017). The … [Read More]

New Paju footbridge honours Glorious Glosters

I am grateful to the Association for the Study of Songun Politics UK for alerting me to the recent opening of a new bridge – the “Gloucester Heroes Bridge” – commemorating the role of British forces (and it was not just the Glosters, though they are the regiment who feature most prominently in the accounts) … [Read More]

Minister Thae moves south

Here are a few links relating to Minister Thae Yong-ho’s defection. Minister Thae was the cultural attache at the DPRK embassy in London, and according to reports effectively the deputy head of mission. At LKL, we came across him during the second art exhibition held at the embassy back in 2014. He was probably there … [Read More]

KFA holds protest outside the US embassy

LKL wandered past the American Embassy yesterday afternoon to see the supporters the UK Korean Friendship Association who were protesting against the annual ROK-US joint military exercises. It will be remembered that the DPRK view of these exercises is that they are offensive, not defensive. Conveniently, the KFA published a press release about the demonstration. … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2016 New Year address

Here is the text of Kim Jong Un’s 2016 New Year Address, as published in today’s Rodong Sinmun: Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army, made his address on the New Year, Juche … [Read More]