North Korea recently condemned Japan for signing a Defense Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement with Canada, calling it a de facto military alliance.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published an article on page 6 of its Wednesday edition titled, Expansion of Military Alliances Aimed at Bolstering War Capabilities. The piece argued that actions such as signing military agreements, exchanging military equipment, supplies, and intelligence, and conducting joint military exercises are hallmarks of military alliances.
The article further contended that as a former aggressor nation, Japan is prohibited from maintaining a military, asserting that the very act of forming a military alliance crosses a red line.
The front page featured a special article titled, A New Era in Building a Science, Technology, and Education Powerhouse. Quoting Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, the newspaper emphasized the critical importance of advancing science and education as a long-term strategy to ensure the revolution’s continuity.
Page 2 reported on the opening of the February 16 Celebration Film Screening Week at the Pyongyang International Cinema House on Tuesday. The paper noted that in honor of the February holiday, a variety of films would be screened, including documentaries showcasing Kim’s revolutionary leadership and various artistic productions.
The third page covered Russian Diplomat Day (February 10), reporting that the Russian Embassy in North Korea hosted a reception at the Pyongyang Daedonggang Diplomatic Club. The article mentioned that Vladimir Topeha, the acting ambassador, attended the event in place of the late Alexander Matsegora.
On page 4, the newspaper touted progress on the construction of 50,000 residential units in Pyongyang. It claimed that this ambitious project, outlined at the 8th Party Congress, is nearing completion on schedule, hailing it as a testament to the transformative power of Kim’s leadership.
The fifth page featured an article titled, Promoting Active Competition Between Central and Local Light Industry Factories. The piece stressed the importance of fostering development and quality competition among factories to drive forward this year’s local transformation initiatives.