SB DX @ ARL $ARLD014
ARLD014 DXCC to accept P5/4L4FN contacts for credit

ZCZC AE14
QST de W1AW  
DX Bulletin 14  ARLD014
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  April 2, 2002
To all radio amateurs   

SB DX ARL ARLD014
ARLD014 DXCC to accept P5/4L4FN contacts for credit

The ARRL has announced it will accept SSB contacts with P5/4L4FN in
North Korea (Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea) for DXCC credit.
Operator Ed Giorgadze of the Republic of Georgia, has been active
from the capital city of Pyongyang since early last November. Valid
SSB contacts from the onset of the P5/4L4FN operation last fall may
be submitted for DXCC credit, effective immediately.

ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, said the ARRL
now has received adequate evidence that the P5/4L4FN operation was
being conducted with the knowledge and approval of North Korean
telecommunications officials. Giorgadze has been operating with oral
permission from North Korean authorities, but Mills said the ARRL is
satisfied on the basis of written information submitted that the
P5/4L4FN operation conforms with DXCC rules and should be accepted
for credit.

Mills cited DXCC Rule 7, which states ''Any Amateur Radio operation
should take place only with the complete approval and understanding
of appropriate administration officials.'' The rule continues, ''In
any case, credit will be given for contacts where adequate evidence
of authorization by appropriate authorities exists.''

Mills said the ARRL Awards Committee met and concurred that the
operation should be accredited.

The P5/4L4FN operation is not a DXpedition. Giorgadze is employed by
the United Nations World Food Program and often spends as much as 12
hours a day on the job, operating in his off hours. It's expected
that he will be in North Korea at least until July and possibly
longer. A favorite hangout has been 21.225 MHz (he works split and
listens up). He's also been a frequent visitor to 10 meters.

While P5/4L4FN has been doing some RTTY operation in addition to
SSB, those contacts are not yet acceptable for DXCC credit.

Bruce Paige, KK5DO, has been acting as QSL manager and liaison for
P5/4L4FN. Additional news and information about the operation is on
his AMSAT Net Web site, http://www.amsatnet.com. Click on the ''P5
North Korea'' link.
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