DPRK Watchers Seek Clues From Assembly

The North Korean legislative body opened its annual session Thursday. Observers in Seoul said the session may offer some insight into Pyongyang's future foreign and economic policies.

South Korean government officials expressed interest in the fourth session of the 10th Supreme People's Assembly.

"Our focus is on how the 'new thinking' emphasized by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il earlier this year will be reflected," a South Korean government official said.

The North Korean cabinet, led by prime minister Hong Song-nam, is also expected to be changed. Officials said it is likely that a new foreign affairs and economic team will be named.

The assembly convenes as the new American administration is seen to be taking a tougher stance toward the communist state. After President George W. Bush said he has "some skepticism" about North Korea last month, the North stepped up its anti-U.S. rhetoric, accusing Washington of raising tensions on the peninsula.

"Evaluations of recent statements by the Bush administration about its policy toward the North and Washington's position on the recent developments in inter-Korean relations could come up," a senior government official said, referring to speeches and meetings scheduled during the assembly session.

But Kang Sung-yoon, a professor at Dongguk University, played down the possibility of a reaction to Washington's stance, saying, "It is unlikely that North Korea has completed reviewing its position on how it will deal with the South and the United States to the extent that they will be able to discuss it openly."

After the assembly rubber stamped Pyongyang's budget for the year, a senior North Korean official said one aim of the budget was to strengthen North Korea's "army first" policies.

North Korea has recently canceled a series of commitments with the South, including Red Cross talks this week and key cabinet-level talks last month.

by Lee Young-jong