Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) — The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.

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N.K. leader’s sister slams S. Korea-U.S.-Japan pledge to denuclearize North as ‘most hostile act’

SEOUL — The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has denounced a recent pledge by South Korea, the United States and Japan to denuclearize Pyongyang, calling it the “most hostile act” and saying it won’t change the country’s possession of nuclear weapons.

Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the ruling party’s central committee, issued the statement Wednesday in response to the outcome of last week’s trilateral meeting of the three countries’ foreign ministers.

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N. Korea removes founder’s birthplace name from annual Pyongyang Int’l Marathon

SEOUL — North Korea has renamed its annual international marathon in Pyongyang for this year, removing the name of national founder Kim Il-sung’s birthplace, a government official said Tuesday.

North Korea’s state media reported the Pyongyang International Marathon took place in the capital on Sunday, marking the competition’s resumption following a five-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

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N. Korea’s under-5 mortality rate rises for 2nd year in 2023 during pandemic

SEOUL — North Korea’s estimated mortality rate for children under age 5 reached 18 per 1,000 live births in 2023, marking two consecutive years of increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, United Nations data showed Tuesday.

The 2023 rate marks an increase from an estimated 17.72 under-five mortality per 1,000 lives in 2022 and 17.44 in 2021, according to the website of the U.N. Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation.

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Chinese officials managing Korean War memorial facility return to N. Korea after 5 yrs

BEIJING — Chinese officials tasked with managing a memorial facility for troops who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War returned to North Korea for the first time in five years, the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang said Monday.

According to the embassy’s website, 14 Chinese officials arrived in North Korea last Monday via the border between Dandong in China’s Liaoning Province and the North Korean city of Sinuiju.

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(LEAD) N. Korea hosts 1st Pyongyang marathon in 6 yrs

SEOUL — North Korea has hosted its annual Pyongyang International Marathon for the first time in six years, resuming it following a suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the North’s state media on Monday.

Marathon enthusiasts from North Korea, China, Morocco, Ethiopia and other countries took part in the Pyongyang International Marathon held the previous day, which featured full and half marathons, as well as 10-kilometer and 5-km races for both men and women, the Korean Central News Agency said.

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N. Korea’s Kim sends condolences over death of ex-Lao President Siphandone

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a message of condolence to the Lao president over the recent death of former President Khamtai Siphandone, the North’s state media reported Monday.

The message sent to President Thongloun Sisoulith came as Laos observes a five-day mourning period through Monday, following the death of the former president last Wednesday at the age of 101.
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