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1. Trilateral Consultation Group on DPRK

Yonhap (“U.S. HOPES FOR FORMAL TRILATERAL CONSULTATION BODY WITH S. KOREA, JAPAN”, 2007-05-22) reported that the United States hopes to establish a formal trilateral consultation body with the ROK and Japan to deal with issues on the DPRK, Korean peace treaty and security, a former White House official said in an interview Monday. Victor Cha, who left the National Security Council (NSC) earlier this month, said the three-nation body would eventually be institutionalized and function separately from the existing six-party Korean denuclearization talks that are expected to develop into a regional security forum.

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2. Inter-Korean Relations

Yonhap (“KOREAS FAIL TO AGREE ON DETAILS FOR SWAPPING OF RAW MATERIALS, RESOURCES”, 2007-05-23) reported that the Koreas failed to settle remaining differences over how to boost cooperation in light industry and natural resource development. Working-level officials could not agree on the list and price of raw materials the ROK is to provide the DPRK in exchange for the right to develop natural resources. The DPRK called for more than the ROK has earmarked for the shipment on the last day of the two-day talks held in the DPRK border city of Kaesong.

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3. DPRK Film at Cannes Festival

Agence France-Presse (“NORTH KOREA’S FIRST FILM: SCHOOLGIRL’S DREAMS N’DRAMA”, 2007-05-23) reported that the DPRK’s first film bidding for buyers at the Cannes market provides a rare look at the nation seen through teenage eyes. The film, which reportedly saw eight million admissions at home last year, or roughly one out of three DPR Koreans, will be released in France at the end of the year. The movie, described by trade magazine Variety as “well-lensed,” debuts unexpectedly with schoolgirls in uniform carrying Mickey Mouse bags.

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4. ROK-PRC Military Relations

Agence France-Presse (“CHINA TO DISCUSS JOINT DRILLS WITH SKOREA”, 2007-05-23) reported that the PRC’s army chief began a visit to the ROK to discuss planned joint naval rescue exercises and other issues, the defence ministry said Liang Guanglie, chief of the general staff, was scheduled to meet his counterpart General Kim Kwan-Jin in the afternoon. Kim and Liang will also discuss regional security and ways to increase military exchanges and cooperation.

(return to top) Korea Times (“SEOUL-BEIJING MILITARY HOTLINES TO OPEN IN AUGUST”, 2007-05-23) reported that the ROK and PRC have agreed to set up military hotlines between their navies and air forces in late August as part of efforts to build confidence between the two militaries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Wednesday. The hotlines are likely to be installed in navy and air force units from both sides around Aug. 24 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Beijing, they said. (return to top)

5. USFJ Base Realignment

The Associated Press (“JAPAN OKS BILL ON U.S. MILITARY REORG.”, 2007-05-23) reported that Japan passed a law to fund the reorganization of US forces in Japan and help move thousands of Marines from the country’s south to the US territory of Guam. The deal also envisioned easing the burden on local communities by downsizing US bases and consolidating troops at other ones throughout the region. Japan has agreed to pay $6 billion for the transfer of troops to Guam, about 1,500 miles south of Tokyo in the Pacific, while Washington has said it will contribute $4 billion.

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6. Japan Constitutional Revision

Kyodo (“LDP TO CALL FOR NEW CONSTITUTION IN ELECTION PLEDGE”, 2007-05-23) reported that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will call for a new Constitution as a step to realize Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s goal of creating a “beautiful” Japan in its platform for the upcoming House of Councillors election, its first draft showed Tuesday. Among the roughly 220 measures pledged in eight themes are also a review of Japan’s national security policies, educational reform and consolidation of Japan’s 47 prefectures into larger units, according to the draft.

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7. PRC-US Trade Relations

Reuters (“U.S. SAYS CHINA SEES NEED TO REBALANCE ITS ECONOMY “, 2007-05-23) reported that US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the US and PRC agreed it was necessary for the PRC to rebalance its economy to encourage more domestic spending and less reliance on exports. “While we have much more work to do, we have tangible results for our efforts thus far,” Paulson said in closing remarks. Paulson said agreement had been reached on “significant items in financial services, energy and the environment and civil aviation.”

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8. PRC African Diplomacy

The Christian Science Monitor (“CHINESE ACTIVISTS LOOKING TO AFRICA”, 2007-05-23) reported that at a discreet gathering on the sidelines of the AfDB shindig, African and PRC civil society groups were meeting for the first time to plan how they could at least take some of the rough edges off a relationship that has sparked controversy well beyond Africa’s borders. But holding the PRC government to account for its behavior in Africa will be a tall order for PRC nongovernmental organizations that are still testing the political waters and have no international experience.

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9. PRC Environment

Reuters (“CHINA’S ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES TO WORSEN “, 2007-05-23) reported that the PRC’s environmental situation is deteriorating, with several major rivers and lakes clogged by industrial waste, state media said. Although spring sandstorms have helped clear the air by blowing away pollutants, the country’s waterways are still suffering, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing Pan Yue, deputy director of the State Environmental Protection Administration. “Pollution worsened in many parts of the country in the first quarter of the year according to nationwide monitoring results,” Pan was quoted as saying.

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10. PRC Rural Unrest

Agence France-Presse (“CHINA ARRESTS 28 AS TENSIONS HIGH AFTER FAMILY PLANNING RIOTS”, 2007-05-23) reported that police arrested 28 people for instigating thousands of people to riot over population control policies in southern PRC, state press said as locals voiced outrage over government abuse. Seven towns in the Guangxi region erupted in violence amid tensions over fines and other punishments imposed for having too many children, Xinhua news agency said in the first official account of the unrest that began last Friday.

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