I. NAPSnet

1. Six Party Talks

The Associated Press (“CHINA: KOREAN NUKE TALKS WILL START NOV. 9”, 2005-11-03) reported that the next of six party talks will begin November 9 in Beijing, the PRC government said on Thursday, appealing to the participants to be ready to make progress in the slow-moving negotiations. “If the parties concerned could … make progress regarding the contents listed in the joint statement at last round, that will be considered positive progress,” Kong said. He appealed to the six parties to “take an active and constructive attitude.”

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2. DPRK on Six Party Talks

Yonhap News (“N.K. URGES U.S. TO IMPLEMENT AGREEMENT AHEAD OF NEW TALKS”, 2005-11-03) reported that the success of the next round of six party talks will depend on whether the US keeps its commitments to end its nuclear threats and provide light-water reactors, a senior DPRK official was quoted as saying on Thursday. The comments by Park Gil-yon, Pyongyang’s top envoy to the UN, could signal that negotiations to implement the agreement reached in September will be difficult.

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3. US on DPRK Nuclear Program

Yonhap News (“U.S. NOT DEMANDING UNILATERAL N.K. ACTION: DETRANI”, 2005-11-02) reported that the US is not asking the DPRK to dismantle its nuclear weapons and programs unilaterally and is ready to correspond “action to action,” a senior negotiator with Pyongyang said on Wednesday. “No one is asking the DPRK to unilaterally dismantle all of their programs before anything else happens,” said Joseph DeTrani, deputy US delegate to the six party talks.

(return to top) Reuters (“US WOULD RETRAIN N. KOREAN NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS”, 2005-11-02) reported that the US will offer details of its proposal to retrain thousands of DPRK nuclear scientists and engineers for more peaceful pursuits when six party talks resume later this month, a top US negotiator said on Wednesday. Joseph DeTrani, US special envoy for the DPRK, said he expected the talks to be productive as negotiators focus on the “actions for actions” needed to make progress toward an agreement aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. He said it was hoped the DPRK’s denuclearization could be accomplished within two years. Removing the DPRK from the US list of states accused of sponsoring terrorism is also under discussion, but the timing depends on the DPRK satisfying Japan’s demands concerning the abduction of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang, DeTrani said. (return to top)

4. Inter-Korean Relations

Yonhap News (“S. KOREANS REQUIRED TO REPORT INTERNET CONTACT WITH N. KOREANS”, 2005-11-03) reported that RO Koreans will be required to report any Internet-based contact with their DPRK compatriots from next month, the Unification Ministry said on Thursday. The ministry is in the final stages of revising the law on inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation to include the possibility RO Koreans and DPR Koreans may exchange e-mails or engage in e-commerce together.

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5. Inter-Korean Economic Aid

Joongang Ilbo (“PARTIES SPAR OVER INTER-KOREAN FUND”, 2005-11-03) reported that after the Ministry of Unification presented a plan to double the inter-Korean cooperation fund for next year, lawmakers engaged in fierce debates at a National Assembly session yesterday. The ministry told the Assembly it will need more than 2.63 trillion won ($2.5 billion) next year to operate state-funded programs to aid the DPRK. Grand National lawmaker Chun Yu-ok said next year’s budget included an emergency reserve of 122.5 billion won, thus the ministry had no need for additional funding for electricity aid to the DPRK. However, Uri representative Lew Seon-ho said an enormous amount of money will be needed after unification, and it would be more economical to assist the DPRK now.

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6. Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation

Yonhap News (“TWO KOREAS LAUNCH WEEKLY MEETING AT KAESONG OFFICE”, 2005-11-03) reported that ROK and DPRK officials had their first weekly meeting at the inter-Korean economic office that opened late last month in Kaesong, Unification Ministry officials said on Thursday. “I understand there was lots of talk of each side doing its best to ensure that inter-Korean economic cooperation projects proceed smoothly,” an official said, on condition of anonymity. “I also heard there was a good atmosphere at the meeting.” The round-table discussion was used as an opportunity to gather opinions on ways to better manage the office, the official said.

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7. Inter-Korean Athletic Cooperation

Reuters (“HURDLES AHEAD FOR TWO KOREA’S SINGLE OLYMPIC TEAM”, 2005-11-02) reported that the ROK hailed a deal to field an inter-Korean joint Olympic team as a step towards unification, but analysts caution that the countries’ political differences are too large to be bridged by sports diplomacy. “Linking this to reunification is a long shot,” said Lee Dong-bok, a Seoul-based DPRK expert. Hwang Young-jo, gold medal winner for the ROK, is concerned that the selection process could favour DPRK athletes. “You have to ask whether we will be forced to give in, which will be a big problem because we’ve always believed that sports is an honest business,” said Hwang.

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8. DPRK-Japanese Relations

Agence France Presse (“JAPAN, NORTH KOREA RESUME DIALOGUE BUT HOPES OF PROGRESS REMAIN LOW”, 2005-11-03) reported that after a year’s break, Japan and the DPRK resumed talks on normalizing their relations amid a “good” atmosphere, but hopes of a breakthrough in ending historic tensions remained low. Both sides appeared locked in their positions, with Japan warning on Wednesday of possible economic sanctions against the DPRK unless the kidnapping issue is resolved. The DPRK, on the other hand, were intent on pushing Japan for reparations to atone for its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945. Despite this the DPRK delegation leader, Song Il-Ho, told reporters after Thursday’s morning session that the atmosphere had been “good”. Japan’s delegation chief, Akitaka Saiki, said the two sides had “serious exchanges on items of mutual concern”.

(return to top) Kyodo News (“ABE SHOWS EASED STANCE ON ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON N. KOREA”, 2005-11-02) reported that Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe showed a slightly more relaxed stance on Wednesday regarding economic sanctions against the DPRK as a means of resolving the issue of Pyongyang’s abduction of Japanese nationals. ”We hope to steadily work toward resolving the abduction issue,” Abe said at a news conference in Tokyo. ”It is important for North Korea to respond sincerely, but if it does not, we have to think about various things.” Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Yoshinori Katori said that the Japanese government has been dealing with the DPRK with both ”dialogue and pressure” and will consider the most effective measure to take following the bilateral talks. (return to top)

9. APEC Discuss DPRK Economy

Yonhap News (“APEC CEOS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO PROMOTE KAESONG INDUSTRIAL PARK”, 2005-11-03) reported that according to the Indonesian ambassador to Seoul, Indonesia has been persuading the DPRK to open up and will continue to do so in the upcoming regional forum in Busan. Indonesia proposed that Asia-Pacific business leaders discuss increasing imports of industrial products made in the inter-Korean industrial complex in Kaesong, Indonesian Ambassador Jakob Tobing told Yonhap News Agency.

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10. DPRK Food Aid

Chosun Ilbo (“UN SAYS N. KOREA COULD LOSE AID “, 2005-11-01) reported that the World Food Program (WFP) said the DPRK may lose critical food aid by insisting that humanitarian aid is limited to development assistance. The WFP and other agencies said it is too early for the transition as the country still needs relief to feed its people. Talks last week between the WFP and DPRK officials on the future of food aid ended without agreement and more negotiations are scheduled for mid-November.

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11. DPRK Human Rights

Chosun Ilbo (“EU SUBMITS N. KOREAN RESOLUTION TO UN PLENARY SESSION”, 2005-11-03) reported that the European Union submitted a resolution on Wednesday condemning the DPRK’s human rights abuses to the UN General Assembly. The resolution calls for an end to the DPRK’s brutal treatment of defectors and its systematic human rights violations including torture, illegal detention, public executions, and forced labor. ROK Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that there was a good chance the resolution will pass, but added, “There are some countries with different views on the matter.” Ban also said the ROK has yet to decide on its position. “The government will make a decision after reviewing its stance on previous UN Human Rights Committee resolutions condemning North Korean human rights abuses, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and progress made in six-party talks. The General Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution between November 17 and 23.

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12. DPRK Defectors

BBC News (“DEFECTOR GIVES UP ON NORTH KOREA”, 2005-11-03) reported that a woman who left her native Japan to live in the DPRK has decided that the country is less alluring than she first thought. Kazumi Kitagawa, 31, defected two years ago claiming she was persecuted in Japan after being forced to be a government mole in a doomsday cult. On entering the DPRK, she initially expressed excitement, saying she wanted to study the Korean language and work as a translator. Later, though, she complained about her cold hotel room, the constant surveillance by guards, and the lack of Japanese cosmetics, clothes, and snacks. The DPRK confirmed on Thursday she had been allowed to leave.

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13. Russia & Far East Development

The Vladivostok News (“TRANS-SIBERIAN TRAFFIC DISCUSSED IN SEOUL “, 2005-11-02) reported that a delegation of Russian Railways participated in the 14th annual meeting of the International Coordinating Council on Trans Siberian Transportation (CCTST), which gathered about 350 railway officials from 21 countries including Russia, Austria, Belarus, the PRC, Finland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to improve transportation technologies and development of Trans-Siberian infrastructure.

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14. Japan Political Succession

The Washington Post (“KOIZUMI RESHUFFLES CABINET, DRAWING LINES FOR SUCCESSION BATTLE”, 2005-11-01) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi reshuffled his cabinet on Monday, setting up a battle among three leading candidates to replace him when his term expires next September.

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15. USFJ Realignment

The Japan Times (“RUMSFELD RULES OUT CHANGES TO REALIGNMENT PLAN”, 2005-11-03) reported that US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of the US and Japan making major changes to its interim report on realigning the US military in Japan.

(return to top) The Yomiuri Shimbun (“RELOCATING U.S. FORCES MAY COST GOVT 320 BILLION YEN”, 2005-11-03) reported that the United States has asked Japan to pay more than 320 billion yen in costs needed to relocate the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force’s headquarters in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam. (return to top) The Yomiuri Shimbun (“JAPAN-U.S. DEFENSE TIES BOOSTED”, 2005-10-31) reported that an interim report issued Saturday after Japan-US ministerial security talks in Washington envisions more integrated cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and US forces. The planned integration includes better information sharing and joint maneuvers to boost interoperability. (return to top) The Asahi Shimbun (“PROTESTS MOUNT OVER RELOCATION TO HENOKO”, 2005-11-02) reported that Okinawa Prefecture-Protests are mounting over a plan to relocate the US Marines Corps Air Station Futenma from Okinawa’s Ginowan city to Nago. (return to top)

16. PRC Japan Relations

Xinhua (“CPPCC VICE-CHAIRWOMAN MEETS JAPANESE GUESTS”, 2005-11-03) reported that Liu Yandong, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met Thursday with Kazuo Oikawa, council member of the Association of the Japanese House of Councilors to discuss Japanese leaders visiting Yasukuni Shrine. Liu hopes that people of vision from both sides would overcome difficulties and make concerted efforts to push ahead with healthy development of Sino-Japanese relations.

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17. PRC Russia Border Issues

The Vladivostok News (“CHINESE GRASS MOWERS HOP TO RUSSIAN TERRITORY”, 2005-11-03) reported that Russian borders guards at Slavyanka border post in Khasansky County on Monday detained two Chinese men who claimed they were grass mowers and did not notice how they crossed the Russian border. Russian border guard service issued a statement saying that despite numerous warnings by the Russian side to the Chinese border guards, the latter still lack control over their nationals’ roaming habits.

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18. PRC Russia Oil Pipeline

ITAR-TASS: News Agency (“RUSSIAN, CHINESE PMS AGREE ON OIL PIPELINE PROJECT”, 2005-11-03) reported that the prime ministers of Russia and the PRC have agreed to sign an inter-government agreement soon on laying an oil pipeline from Russia to the PRC.

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19. PRC-US Relations

Xinhua (“BUSH TO MEET WITH CHINESE LEADERS: FM SPOKESMAN”, 2005-11-03) reported that US president George W. Bush is scheduled to visit the PRC from November 19 to 21 after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Bush will hold talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. The fifth meeting between Hu and Bush is expected to focus on reaching a consensus on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

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20. PRC Domestic

Japan Today (“800 CLASH WITH CHINESE POLICE AFTER ALLEGED BEATING INCIDENT”, 2005-11-01) reported that about 800 people scuffled with police officers and damaged a police vehicle in Beijing on Monday after two antigovernment petitioners were allegedly hit with batons.

(return to top) The International Herald Tribune (“CHINESE PEASANTS TO GET MORE RIGHTS”, 2005-11-03) reported that the PRC plans to abolish legal distinctions between urban residents and peasants in 11 provinces as the government tries to slow the widening of the country’s wealth gap and reduce social unrest. (return to top) Xinhua (“PEACE, HARMONY, RECONCILIATION TOPS CPC AGENDA”, 2004-11-03) reported that seeking peace in foreign affairs, harmony in domestic construction and reconciliation on the Taiwan issue are the top priorities in the agenda of the “Communist Party of China” (CPC), a prestigious CPC theorist said here Thursday. (return to top)

21. PRC Space Technology

Xinhua (“CHINA PLANS TO PUT THREE MEN IN SPACE BY 2007”, 2005-11-03) reported that the PRC plans to put three men into space within the next two years as it looks ahead to an orbiting space station and a mission to the moon.

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22. PRC Technology Infrastructure

Xinhua (“CHINA NOW HAS 103 MLN NETIZENS”, 2005-11-03) reported that the number of netizens in the PRC rose to 103 million by late June this year, according to Mao Qian, head of Optical Telecommunications Committee of China Telecommunications Society.

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23. PRC Vietnam Visit

Xinhua (“PRESIDENT HU’S VISIT TO VIETNAM “SUCCESSFUL””, 2005-11-02) reported that the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China(CPC) and PRC President Hu Jintao is “successful,” said a senior CPC official Wednesday.

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24. PRC & Bird Flu

Xinhua (“INNER MONGOLIA REPORTS NO NEW AVIAN FLU CASES”, 2005-11-03) reported that no new H5N1 avian flu cases were found in the past 20 days in north PRC’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, local government said Thursday.

(return to top) BBC News (“ASIA ‘NOT HIDING BIRD FLU CASES’ “, 2005-11-03) reported that there is no evidence of hidden cases of bird flu in people in South-East Asia and the PRC, British scientists have stated. (return to top)

25. Taiwan International

The China Post (“QUESTION MARK STILL HANGS OVER TAIWAN’S APEC ENVOY”, 2005-11-03) reported that a question mark still hangs over the identity of Taiwan’s envoy to an upcoming summit of Asia Pacific leaders in South Korea, after Seoul yesterday once again rebuffed Taipei’s offer to send legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng.

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26. Cross-Strait Relations

BBC News (“TAIWAN URGED TO WELCOME CHINESE “, 2005-11-02) reported that Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council has urged the public to be friendly towards high-level PRC tourism officials currently visiting the island. The head of the PRC’s tourism board is heading a 66-member delegation for a 10-day visit to Taiwan.

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