I. NAPSNet

1. DPRK Energy Aid

Korea Herald (“FLOODING IN N. KOREA DELAYS SHIPMENT OF ENERGY AID UNDER NUCLEAR”, 2007-08-29) reported that recent flooding in the DPRK is delaying shipments of energy aid that is part of a six-nation agreement on denuclearizing the DPRK, officials were quoted as saying. The PRC was earlier expected to start shipping 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil to the DPRK before the end of August, but Foreign Ministry officials said the process has yet to begin.

(return to top)

2. Inter-Korean Summit

Yonhap (“ROH’S ADVISER SAYS INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT TO PAVE WAY FOR PEACE TREATY”, 2007-08-29) reported that the upcoming inter-Korean summit will pave the way for the formation of a cross-border economic community and a permanent and unification-oriented peace regime, an adviser to President Roh Moo-hyun said. Former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, a member of the presidential advisory group on inter-Korean summit talks, said the two Koreas will have to move one step forward toward the formation of a common economic community during Roh’s trip to Pyongyang.

(return to top) Chosun Ilbo (“NLL ‘NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION AT INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT'”, 2007-08-29) reported that the government has decided to leave discussion of the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border with the DPRK in the West Sea, off the agenda when President Roh Moo-hyun meets DPRK leader Kim Jong-il in October. If the DPRK, which wants the NLL redrawn, raises the issue as expected, the government will propose that the two sides’ defense ministers discuss it as part of talks on easing tensions in other border areas like the Demilitarized Zone. (return to top)

3. Japan-DPRK Working Group Meeting

Kyodo (“N. KOREAN ENVOY SEES ‘SOME PROGRESS’ IN JAPAN’S ATTITUDE”, 2007-08-29) reported that the DPRK’s ambassador in charge of normalization talks with Japan said he sees “some progress” in Japan’s attitude toward his country, striking a rare positive note toward Tokyo ahead of bilateral talks on bitter disputes slated for next week. Song Il Ho also welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s comments about the need to resolve issues linked to Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.

(return to top)

4. DPRK on US-ROK Military Exercise

The Associated Press (“N. KOREA CRITICIZES US-SKOREA DRILLS”, 2007-08-29) reported that the DPRK renewed its vehement criticism of US-ROK military exercises, warning it could respond with action outside the diplomacy it has recently pursued with Washington. “If the U.S. persists in its military hostile actions … the (North) will take strong countermeasures different from the stand for dialogue it has so far maintained,” the DPRK’s Foreign Ministry said.

(return to top)

5. ROK Hostages in Afghanistan

Joongang Ilbo (“HOSTAGES GIVEN FREEDOM IN GROUPS”, 2007-08-29) reported that ten female ROK hostages and two males walked to freedom in three separate releases yesterday, ending 42 days of captivity in Afghanistan. The remaining seven could be released as soon as today. The Foreign Ministry said hostages in the first two groups ? Ahn Hye-jin, Han Ji-young, Lee Jeung-ran, Ko Se-hoon, Lee Sun-young, Lee Ji-young, Lim Hyun-ju and Lyu Jung-hwa ? were healthy.

(return to top)

6. ROK Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal

Korea Times (“TROOP PULLOUT FROM AFGHANISTAN STARTS”, 2007-08-29) reported that the ROK has begun preparations for the withdrawal of ROK forces in Afghanistan following Tuesday’s agreement on the release of 19 ROK hostages with Taliban militants, the Ministry of National Defense said. “There is no change in our plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year,” ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-ki told reporters, saying detailed plans for the troop pullout will be drawn up beginning next month.

(return to top)

7. Japan Missile Defense

Kyodo News (“FIELD STUDY FOR MISSILE DEFENSE TO BE HELD IN TOKYO IN SEPTEMBER”, 2007-08-29) reported that the Defense Ministry is planning to conduct a field study in Tokyo as early as next month on defending the capital against a DPRK missile attack using recently deployed Patriot missiles, sources at the ministry and the Self-Defense Forces said.

(return to top)

8. Japan Military

Reuters (“JAPAN MAY DEVELOP FIGHTERS AFTER U.S. REBUFF: REPORT”, 2007-08-29) reported that Japan’s Defence Ministry is seeking a budget to develop its own fighter jets, a report said, after the US blocked foreign sales of Washington’s most advanced stealth fighter for security reasons. In the face of US resistance to exports, the ministry will seek 15.7 billion yen ($138 million) for research and development into the possibility of building fighter jets in Japan, as part of a total budget request of 4,817.2 billion yen for fiscal 2008, Kyodo news agency said.

(return to top)

9. Japan-EU Trade Relations

Agence France-Presse (“JAPAN, EU AGREE TO LAUNCH TALKS ON ECONOMIC DEAL”, 2007-08-29 ) reported that Japan and the European Union will launch talks next month to enhance economic cooperation in the first step to a long-shot possibility of a free trade deal, officials said. The two major economic blocs are both highly sensitive about agriculture, an issue that has led to the collapse of talks under the World Trade Organisation.

(return to top)

10. Japan Earthquake Damage

Citizen’s Nuclear Information Center (“CALL FOR CLOSURE OF KASHIWAZAKI-KARIWA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT”, 2007-08-29) wrote that it goes without saying that a detailed investigation of the damage to all the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant facilities, beginning with the inside of the pressure vessel, along with a scientific examination of the ground of the site must now be carried out. However, these should not be carried out on the assumption that the plant will be restarted. They should be carried out as objective scientific and technical investigations to deal with the post-quake situation, maintaining the premise that the plant will not necessarily be restarted, keeping in mind the possibility of permanent closure of the plant.

(return to top)

11. Sino-Japanese Relations

Reuters (“CHINA DEFENSE MINISTER VISITS JAPAN, TIES ON MEND”, 2007-08-29) reported that PRC defense Minister Cao Gangchuan arrived in Japan in the first such visit in nearly 10 years, hoping to ease tensions after strained ties halted top-level military exchanges. Cao may agree with newly appointed Japanese defense Minister Masahiko Komura to set up a defense hotline, media say, but issues including the PRC’s ballooning military spending will also likely be on the agenda for their talks.

(return to top)

12. Cross Strait Relations

Agence France-Presse (“TAIWAN PRESIDENT DEFENDS UN REFERENDUM “, 2007-08-29) reported that Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian refuted US criticism that his plans for a referendum on joining the United Nations are provocative. “The referendum is not aimed at changing the status quo of the Taiwan Strait but at safeguarding the status quo,” the state-funded Central News Agency quoted Chen as saying. “Instead, it is China that is trying to alter the status quo in the hope of turning it into part of China.”

(return to top)

13. PRC Party Congress

Donga Ilbo (“PRIOR TO CHINA’S 17TH NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS, CONFLICTS ARE GETTING FIERCER”, 2007-08-29) reported that according to Taiwan’s United Daily News on August 23, the PRC has been suffering various conflicts regarding ideologies prior to the 17th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). When it comes to ideology conflicts, major opinions are divided into two categories: one is called “New Right” and the other is called “New Left.” The former advocates not only Deng Shaoping’s reforms, but also political reforms like democracy, arguing that only when the party gives up its one party dictatorship can stable development be guaranteed. The latter opinion is quite opposite to the former one. It urges a return to a planned economy system because current corruption levels and the gap between the rich and poor are being made worse by the open economy.

(return to top)