London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

A comprehensive list of DPRK slogans

In case you ever feel short of inspiring slogans, the WPK Central Committee and Central Military Commission has just published a list of 349 of them. Here’s an example (#344): The revolutionary spirit of Paektu, the spirit of the blizzards of Paektu and the anti-Japanese revolutionary forerunners’ call to keep the revolutionary faith even if … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2015 New Year address

Here is the full text of Kim Jong Un’s 2015 New Year address, kindly provided by the DPRK embassy in London. 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 a New Year address … [Read More]

Now, what’s that book by Salman Rushdie called?

North Korea’s rant about Channel 4’s planned TV series has now been translated into English on the KCNA Japanese website. Like most of their rants, it’s entertaining in small doses. I’ve often wondered why they invest in a translator that is only semi-competent. Here’s a select quote from the press release: The British authorities should … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2014 New Year Address

The traditional new year address, which seems to have replaced the formerly traditional Joint New Year Editorial. I’m wondering what construction project resulted in the fatalities mentioned in the third main paragraph. Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission … [Read More]

The official announcement of Jang Song-thaek’s execution

From the KCNA’s English-language website run from Japan. Among his crimes: Half-heartedly clapping when Kim 3 was appointed vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea projecting himself internally and externally as a special being on a par with the headquarters of the revolution Preventing a tile factory from erecting a … [Read More]

Official announcement of Jang Song-thaek’s arrest

Here is the formal announcement of Jang Song-thaek’s arrest, from the KCNA Japanese website. A lesson for anyone who might dare to dream different dreams or eat in a restaurant’s private dining room. Report on Enlarged Meeting of Political Bureau of Central Committee of WPK Pyongyang, December 9 (KCNA) — A report on the enlarged … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2013 New Year Address

The following is the full text of Kim Jong Un’s New Year Address. As in previous years, we have provided links to the Joint Declarations where these are mentioned in the speech. Dear comrades, Officers and men of the heroic People’s Army and all the beloved fellow countrymen, Dear compatriots, Having seen out the year … [Read More]

2012 Joint New Year Editorial: “The entire army should place absolute trust in Kim Jong Un and defend him unto death”

The customary New Year joint editorial published by the major North Korean newspapers serves to reinforce the position of Kim Jong Un, who is mentioned 15 times in this 5,700-word exhortatory message. “The whole Party, the entire army and all the people” is encouraged to “become human bulwarks and human shields in defending Kim Jong … [Read More]

KCNA on the death of Kim Jong-il

The death of Kim Jong-il has provided many Korea-watchers the opportunity to write retrospective assessments of Kim’s life, and speculations about the future. But it is a commonplace that not much can be known for certain about North Korea. The official government mouthpiece is the Korean Central News Agency. It has reported the ice on … [Read More]

Are the six party talks a waste of time? Pyongyang won’t give up its nukes, says Choe Tae Bok

We all have our private thoughts on that question. The Chatham House talk this week (29 March) by Choe Tae Bok, Speaker of the North Korean Supreme People’s Assembly, was off the record, so I have not reported anything specific from the event. But given the timing of the visit, coinciding with the implementation of … [Read More]

2010 Joint New Year Editorial: “Hooray for socialism and singing of Arirang of prosperity”

The DPRK’s joint new year editorial celebrates revolutionary upsurges, an orbiting satellite and the economic upturn. Here is the version published on the KCNA website Joint New Year Editorial Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) — Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi Friday published a joint editorial titled “Bring about a radical turn in the people’s standard of … [Read More]

Two versions of the significance of 27 July

First, a press release from the White House, issued on 24 July: National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2009 – – – – – – – BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Fifty-six years after the signing of the Military Armistice Agreement at Panmunjom, Americans remain grateful for the courage … [Read More]

2009 Joint New Year Editorial: Pyongyang marches for “socialist fairyland”

The BBC yesterday published the above photo of a demonstration in Pyongyang in support of the DPRK’s traditional joint New Year editorial. Here’s the some of the text from the KCNA website. Pyongyang, January 1 (KCNA) — Rodong Sinmun, Josoninmingun and Chongnyonjonwi Thursday issued a joint editorial titled “Glorify this year as a year of … [Read More]

DPRK on the US terrorism list and verification

Just received from the DPRK embassy in London Foreign Ministry Spokesman on DPRK’s Will to Cooperate in Verification of Objects of Nuclear Disablement Pyongyang, October 12 (KCNA) — A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA Sunday as regards the U.S.’s delisting the DPRK as “a … [Read More]