This week’s news included coverage of a large meeting of Worker-Peasant Guard leaders, numerous festivities for Kim Jong Il’s birthday, and the induction ceremony for new KCU recruits.

Meeting of Worker-Peasant Guards

More meetings took place this week in North Korea. This time, Worker-Peasant Guards in leadership positions gathered in the capital to attend a centralized event featuring speakers from the Ministry of People’s Security. It is nearly impossible to discern whether the recent surge in meetings is simply political consolidation or perhaps related to Jang Sung Thaek’s execution. A large meeting of security personnel does attract attention though; it