CHRONOLOGY: NORTH KOREA JANUARY 1988

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP04T00990R000300230001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 3, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 16, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

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Central Intelligence Agency
1 January
January 1988
DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE
16 February 1988
CHRONOLOGY: NORTH KOREA
President Kim II-song's New Year's address calls for
high-level political-military talks between officials of North
and South and representatives of political parties and social
organizations. Proposed agenda items include the annual
US-South Korean Team Spirit exercise and cohosting the
Olympics. (Beijing Xinhua 12 January 1988)
2 January President Kim II-song meets with Choe Tok-sin, Vice
Chairman of Committee for Peaceful Reunification of the
Fatherland. KWP Secretaries Ho Tam and Ho Chong-suk are
present. (KCNA 2 January 1988)
This memorandum was prepared by I Office of East Asian Analysis. 25X1
Information available as of 16 February 1988 was used in its preparation. Comments
and queries are welcome and may be directed to the Chief, Korea Branch, Northeast Asia
Division, OEA, 25X1
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3 January
No. 1 furnace of the calcium carbide production system at
Sunch'on Vinalon Complex begins operations. (Beijing Xinhua
4-7 January Delegation of Norwegian Communist Party, headed by
Chairman Kore Andre Nilsen, visits P'yongyang; meets with
Kim II-song. (KCNA 4 January 1988; KCNA 6 January 1988;
KCNA 7 January 1988)
4-11 January Delegation of Sri Lankan Freedom Party, headed by Deputy
Chairman Anura Bandaranaike, visits P'yongyang; holds talks
with KWP Secretary Hwang Chang-yop and meets with Kim
II-song. (KCNA 4 January 1988; KCNA 7 January 1988; KCNA
9 January 1988; KCNA 11 January 1988)
7 January
(KCNA 7 January 1988)
Foreign Minister Kim Yong-nam meets with recently
appointed Ambassador from Nigeria Salau Adeku Awal.
7-14 January Foreign Trade Minister Ch'oe Chong-kun heads delegation to
China; holds talks with Zheng Tuobin, Minister of Foreign
Economic Relations and Trade and meets with Deputy Premier
Tian Jiyun. (KCNA 7 January 1988; Beijing Xinhua 9 January
1988; Beijing Xinhua 12 January 1988; P'yongyang Domestic
Service in Korean 14 January 1988)
10 January
11 January
(KCNA 10 January 1988)
Vice President Pak Song-ch'ol and Deputy Premier Ch'oe
Kwang attend memorial meeting--also attended by KWP
Secretary Kye Ung-t'ae and Candidate Politburo member Hyon
Mu-kwang--to mark 50th anniversary of death of Communist
revolutionary fighter Ma Tong-hui; Ch'oe delivers speech.
children. (KCNA 11 January 1988)
Deputy Premier Hong Song-nam and Chief Secretary of
P'yongyang City Party Committee Kang Hui-won participate in
opening ceremony for "Winter Sports Month" for school
Vice President Pak Song-ch'ol receives separate courtesy calls
from new Soviet Ambassador Bartoshevich and Libyan
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12 January
13 January
(KCNA 11 January 1988)
People's Committee Secretary 1 Muhammed Omar Albaroni.
Television Service in Russian 11 January 1988)
Soviet Union announces decision to participate in 1988 Seoul
Olympic Games but reiterates support for North Korean
cohosting proposal. (Paris AFP 11 January 1988; Moscow
President of International Table Tennis Federation Ichiro
Ogimura visits P'yongyang and passes on Seoul's request that
the North state its final conditions for participation in the
Olympics. .(KCNA 12 January 1988; Tokyo Yomiuri Shimbun in
North Korean Olympic Committee announces decision not to
participate in 1988 Seoul Olympic Games unless Seoul agrees
to P'yongyang's cohosting proposal. (KCNA 12 January 1988)
(Seoul Yonhap 13 January 1988)
Malta and South Korea agree to resume diplomatic relations
after 17 year suspension; Ambassador Yi Nam-ki, resident in
Italy, presents credentials to acting President Paul Xuereb.
Newly established Embassy of Afghanistan opens for
business in P'yongyang. (Kabul Domestic Service in Pashto 12
January 1988; KCNA 14 January 1988)
appointed to prepare for the joint conference. (KCNA 13
KWP Secretary Ho Tam delivers report at joint meeting 2 of
Central People's Committee, Administration Council, political
parties, and social committees; adds details to Kim II-song's
New Year's address, proposing a preliminary meeting at
P'anmunjom on 19 February to discuss convening a
North-South joint conference, to be followed by meetin s
held alternately in P'yongyang and Seoul. A committee is
Equivalent to Ambassador.
Also attended by Pak Song-ch'ol, Ho Chong-suk, and Kim Yon-hyok.
Ho Tam, Chairman, Chong Chun-ki, Chi Ch'ang-ik, Chong Sin-hyok, Choe Tok-sin, Kim
Yong-chun, Yom T'ae-chun, Pyon Tong-nip, Kim Pong-chu, Ch'oe Yong-hae, Pak
Su-tong, Kang Chom-suk, Chu Chang-chub, Paek In-chun, and Pak Tae-ho.
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14 January
15 January
Kim 11-song receives courtesy call from newly, appointed
Nigerian Ambassador Salau Adeku Lawal. (KCNA 13 January
P'anmunjom. (KCNA 13 January 1988)
P'yongyang plans to deliver a letter on 14 January at
Chairman of North Korean Red Cross Society Son- Song-pil
telephones South Korean counterpart to inform him that
1988)
Secretary Ch'oe T'ae-pok delivers report. (KCNA 15 January
News Agency and Hungarian Television Committee.
(P'yongyang Domestic Service in Korean 14 January 1988)
Vice President Pak Song-ch'ol and KWP Secretary Ho
Chong-suk attend national meeting in P'yongyang to mark
60th anniversary of founding of Saenal newspaper; KWP
Hungarian television committee delegation, headed by
Chairman Gyu!a Bereczky, meets with KWP Secretary Hwang
Chang-yop; KC.NA Chairman Chu Hyon-ok and Bereczky sign
cooperation agreement on broadcasts between Korean Central
Sam and Kim Dae Jung. (KCNA 14 January 1988)
At P'anmunjom, North Koreans hand over letter adopted at
joint meeting in P'yongyang and addressed to fifty South
Koreans, including President-elect Roh Tae Woo, Prime
Minister Kim Chong-Vol, and opposition leaders Kim Young
1988)
Seoul announces results of KAL airliner terrorist investigation;
"Mayumi" is identified as Kim Hyon-hui, a North Korean agent.
In press conference, Kim admits guilt, says instructions came
from Kim Chong-ill, and claims the bombing was intended to
disrupt the 1988' Seoul Olympics. (Seoul Yonhap 15 January
15 January 1988)
P'yongyang denies culpability, labeling the investigation "a
fabrication full of lies, deception, and contradictions." (KCNA
1988)
Cuba announces decision not to participate in 1988 Seoul
Olympics, citing concern for safety of its athletes and the
denial of a cohosting role for North Korea. (KCNA 17 January
(Tokyo Kyodo 16 January 1988)
Japanese Prime Minister Takeshita severely criticizes North
Korea for its involvement in the KAL airliner disappearance.
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Tam is present. (KCNA 15 January 1988)
Kim II-song meets with group of students of Choson
University in Japan headed by Ku Tae-sok; KWP Secretary Ho
15-19 January Deputy Premier Kim Yun-hyok, Chairman of Construction and
Building Materials Commission, heads delegation to Romania;
meets with President Ceausescu and holds talks with First
Deputy Prime Ministers Stefan Andrei and Ion Dinca, Deputy
Prime Minister Constantin Radu, and Deputy Minister of
Foreign Relations and International Economic Cooperation
Mihai Nicolaeo. (Bucharest Agerpres 19 January 1988; KCNA
20 January 1988; Bucharest Agerpres 20 January 1988; KCNA
22 January 1988)
16 January South Korean Foreign Minister Choi Kwang Soo withdraws
policy directive permitting contacts with North Korean
diplomats in neutral settings. (Seoul Yonhap 16 January 1988)
16-23 January Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Choe Su-hon heads delegation
to Czechoslovakia to attend meeting of deputy foreign
ministers' of socialist countries; holds discussions with Deputy
Foreign Minister Stefan Murin. First Deputy Foreign Minister
Jaromir Johanes and Choe sign cooperation agreement
between ministries. (KCNA 16 January 1988; Prague Rude
Pravo in Czech 23 January 1988)
18 January
Olympic Committee of Nicaragua declines invitation to
participate in Olympic Games because of the country's poor
economic situation. (Madrid EFE in Spanish 19 January 1988)
18-25 January A Syrian military delegation, headed by Chief of General Staff
Hikmat Al-Shihabi, visits P'yongyang; meets with Kim II-song,
bringing gift for Kim Chong-il as well as Kim II-song. Chief
of Staff 0 Kuk-yol accompanies delegation on tour of
Mangyongdae and speaks at banquet held in their honor.
(KCNA 18 January 1988; P'yongyang Domestic Service in
Korean 18 January 1988; KCNA 21 January 1988; KCNA 23
January 1988; KCNA 26 January 1988)
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18-25 January Chief Secretary of P'yongyang City Party Committee Kang
Hui-won leads friendship delegation to India, with stopover in
Moscow. Kang meets with New Delhi Mayor Mahindra
. Sinssati. (KCNA 25 January 1988)
18-25 January A Hungarian economic and trade delegation, headed by
Deputy Commerce Minister Otto Herkner, visits Pyongyang;
meets with Deputy Premier Kim Pok-sin. Deputy Foreign
Trade Minister Song Hui-ch'ol and Herkner sign 1988 protocol
between the two countries. Terms call for Hungarian exports
of instruments, buses, and medicine, and Korean exports of
machine tools, raw materials, and consumer goods. (KCNA 19
January 1988; KCNA 25 January 1988; Budapest MTI 25
January 1988)
19 January
Ethiopia announces decision not to participate in 1988 Seoul
Olympics unless North Korea is allowed cohosting role.
(Addis Ababa Domestic Service in Amharic 19 January 1988)
Tong-A Ilbo in Korean 20 January 1988)
South Korean IOC Chairman Kim Chong Ha declares 13
February as final deadline for P'yongyang to respond to IOC
proposal. He indicates that a North Korean team would still
be accepted but rules out joint North-South team. (Seoul
visit to P'yongyang. (KCNA 20 January 1988)
KWP Secretary Ho Tam meets with Choe Hong-hui, President
of International. Taekwondo Federation, and delegation during
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20 January
January 1988)
United States designates North Korea as state sponsor of
terrorism, tightens already strict visa regime on North Korean
passport holders, and withdraws March 1987 authorization for
US diplomats to engage in substantive discussions with North
Korean diplomats in neutral settings. (STATE 017660, 21
(Seoul The Korea Herald 20 January 1988)
South Korean Foreign Ministry announces Yi Sang-ok,
Permanent Observer at UN in Geneva, will raise issue of North
Korea's terrorist attack on the KAL airliner at meeting of UN
Commission on Human Rights on 1 .February in Geneva.
Yong-nam. (KCNA 20 January 1988)
Libyan People's Committee Secretary Mohammed Omar
Albaroni pays farewell courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kim
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21 January Premier Yi Kun-mo meets with Libyan Secretary Albaroni
during farewell call. (KCNA 21 January 1988)
Foreign Minister Kim Yong-nam meets with recently
appointed Ambassador from Mali Nakounte Diakite. (KCNA 22
January 1988)
21-29 January Machine Industry Minister Kye Hyong-sun heads delegation to
Soviet Union; meets with Deputy Chairman of the Council of
Ministers IS. Silayev. (KCNA 21 January 1988; Moscow Pravda
in Russian 28 January 1988; P'yongyang Domestic Service in
Korean 29 January 1988)
22 January President Kim-111-song receives Libyan Secretary Albaroni for
farewell call. (KCNA 22 January 1988) 25X1
Kim 11-song receives credentials from recently appointed
Ambassador from Mali Nakounte Diakite. (KCNA 22 January
25 January
26 January
1988)
25 January 1988; Moscow TASS 25 January 1988)
remains of US soldiers killed during the Korean war.
Foreign Ministry reacts to US designation of North Korea as
state sponsor of terrorism and resulting sanctions with
vigorous denial and, in retaliation, announces it will
discontinue contacts with US diplomats, deny entry of US
nationals to North Korea, and refrain from talks with US on
Nicolae Ceaucescu. (KCNA 26 January 1988)
Song-nam and KWP Secretary Hwang Chang-yop, attend
reception at Romanian Embassy to mark 70th birthday of
(KCNA
Premier Yi Kun-mo, accompanied by Deputy Premier Hong
The Japanese Foreign Ministry announces sanctions against
North Korea for its involvement in the destruction of KAL 858:
limited contacts by Japanese diplomats with North Korean
counterparts in third countries, a ban on official travel to
North Korea, and a ban on air travel to and from North Korea.
Japan will also bar entry to North Korean officials and make
strict entry checks on other North Koreans. Sanctions stop
short of trade restrictions. Comment: Japan hoped to
separate the KAL sanctions from the issue of repatriation of
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26 January 1988)
the two Fujisan Maru crew members held in North Korea since
1983. On 1 February 1988, P'yongyang retaliates by imposing
countersanctions on Japan, including the cancellation of
further negotiations on the Fujisan Maru crew. (Tokyo Kyodo
Premier Yi Kun-mo meets with recently appointed Soviet
Ambassador Gennadiy Bartoshevich. (KCNA 27 January 1988)
Hyong-sop. (KCNA 27 January 1988)
Indian Ambassador S.S. Gill hosts reception to mark 39th
anniversary of founding of Republic of India; invited officials
include Vice President Pak Song-ch'ol, Foreign Minister Kim
Yong-nam, and SPA Standing Committee Chairman Yang
27 January Deputy Foreign Minister of Mozambique and North Korean
Ambassador Cha Myong-kuk sign cooperation protocol
between foreign ministries in Maputo. (Maputo Domestic
Service in Portuguese 27 January 1988)
28 January
29 January
30 January
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and end in May 1988. (Seoul Yonhap 28 January 1988) 25X1
Chairman of KWP Central Committee Ch'oe T'ae-pok
denounces Team Spirit '88 at P'yongyang rally to mark 30th
anniversary of US introduction of nuclear weapons to the
Korean peninsula. Other top officials at meeting include Kang
Hui-won, Chong Sin-hyok, Choe Tok-sin, Yom T'ae-chun, Kim
Yong-chun, Kim Pong-chu, Ch'oe Yong-hae, Pak Su-tong, Yi
Mong-ho, Yu Ho-chun, Chon Kum-chol, An Min-chan, and
Wang Kyong-hak. (KCNA 28 January 1988; P'yongyang
Domestic Service in Korean 28 January 1.988) 25X1
South Korea announces Team Spirit '88 will begin in Februar
(KCNA 29 January 1988)
Radio and Television Broadcasting Committee Chairman Chu
Hyon-ok and Cuban Ambassador Sigas sign protocol in
P'yongyang to exchange radio and television delegations.
Korea. (Tokyo Kyodo 30 January 1988)
Citing the November 1987 bombing of KAL 858, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines sever diplomatic relations with North
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Yi Cha-pang, Chairman of State Commission of Science and
Technology, heads delegation to Soviet Union; Soviet
Chairman of State Committee for Science and Technology
Boris Tolstykh and Yi sign agreement in Moscow for
cooperation in science and technology. (KCNA 30 January
1988; KCNA 6 February 1988)
Kim Yu-sun, Chairman of North Korean Olympic Committee,
heads delegation to Canada to attend 93rd General Assembly
of IOC. (KCNA 30 January 1988)
31 January Chief Secretary of P'yongyang City Party Committee Kang
Hui-won participates in P'yongyang meeting to kick off League
of Socialist Working Youth (LSWYK) "march of exploration" to
the Oun revolutionary historic site. (P'yongyang Domestic
Service in Korean 31 January 1988)
Key Appearances*
Leaders
January
1988
Kim II-song
7
7
Kim Chong-il
0
0
0 Chin-u
0
0
Competition for Diplomatic Recognition
Total Countries
North Korea -1 102
South Korea +1 127
* Number of days these North Korean leaders appear in public according to press.
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16 February 46th birthday of Kim Chong-il.
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February-May The US-ROK Team Spirit exercise scheduled.
I
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15 April 76th birthday of Kim 11-song.
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6 July 27th an
niversar of signing of Soviet-Korean Friendship
Treaty.
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11 July 27 anniversary of signing of Chinese-Korean Friendship
Treaty.
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15 August 43rd anniversary of National Liberation.
9 September North Korean National Day--40th anniversary of founding of
North Korean government.
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17 September 1988 Opening of the 1988 Olympic Games
Summer 1989 P'yongyang to host 13th World Youth Festival.
- 10 -
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SUBJECT: Chronology: North Korea--January 1988
Distribution:
Original - Files
1 - Bill Newcomb, INR/EC/CER, Room 8442, Dept. of State
1 - John Merrill, INR/EAP/NA, Room 8840, Dept. of State
1 - Joseph A. Mussomeli, East Asian and Pacific Affairs,
DDI/OEA/NA/Kore
1 - NIO/EA (7E 62)
1 - C/PPS/DO (3D 01)
1 - C/EALI(5E 18)
1 - OGI/FSIC/Pl (2G 28)
1 - OEA/NEA/Korea Branch (4G 43)
1 - OEA/NEA/Japan Branch (4G 31)
1 - OEA/NEA/STI Branch (4G 43)
1 - OEA/NEA Division (4G 43)
1 - OEA/China Division (4g 32)
1 - OEA/SEA Division (4F 24)
1 - D/OEA (4F 18)
1 - C/Production/OEA (4G 48)
1 - FBIS Analysis Group (3S05 RCCB)
1 - DDI (7E 47)
1 - Senior Review Panel (5G 00)
1 - Office of Congressional Affairs (7B 24)
1 - PDB Staff (7F 30)
6 - CPAS/IMC/CG (7G 07)
1 - CPAS/ILS (7F 50)
1 - C/PES (7F 24)
1 - NIC/AG (7E 47)
1 - DDO/EA Division (5D 00)
Director, DCI/DDCI/Executive Staff (7E 12)
1 - DDO/E
1 - DDO/EA
1 - DDO/E
5C
45)
19)
19)
(5C
_C5 C
16 February 1988
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