CONTENTS
1. Implementation of Agreed Framework
2. Colin Powell’s Asian Visit
3. Bush-Jiang Talks
4. US Intelligence on PRC
5. Japanese History Textbook
II. Republic of Korea 1. Inter-Korean Talks
2. DPRK-PRC Relations
3. Hwang Jang-yop’s US Visit
I. United States
1. Implementation of Agreed Framework
Dallas Morning News (“NORTH KOREA: BUSH OKS $20 MILLION TO DELIVER FUEL TO NATION,” 7/6/01) reported that US President George W. Bush has authorized the release of US$20 million for fuel deliveries to the DPRK under the 1994 Agreed Framework. Bush made known the action in a memo to US Secretary of State Colin Powell that the White House released Thursday. [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for July 6, 2001.]
2. Colin Powell’s Asian Visit
Agence France Presse (“POWELL TO VISIT ASIA, AUSTRALIA,” Washington, 7/6/01) reported that US Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit the PRC this month, making him the most senior US official to visit the country since the diplomatic crisis over the downed US spy plane in April. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that Powell would also pay visits to consult allies Japan, the ROK and Australia and will also stop in Vietnam on his first Asian tour since coming to office. Powell will first call in the Japan on July 23 before moving on to meetings at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum in Hanoi between July 24 and 26. Boucher said, “While in Hanoi, since many leaders from Asia will be gathered, he’ll have an opportunity to meet with representatives of other countries from the region.” Boucher said that Powell will then head to the ROK on July 27, and the next day will arrive in the PRC to meet senior PRC officials.
3. Bush-Jiang Talks
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (“BUSH, JIANG TALK 20 MINUTES ON TELEPHONE,” Washington, 7/6/01) reported that US President George Bush and PRC President Jiang Zemin spoke for 20 minutes on the telephone Thursday, the first direct telephone contact between the two leaders since Bush took office in January. The call came just hours after the disassembled US spy plane stranded on Hainan Island was returned as cargo to the US. A White House Spokesman said that Bush thought it was the “appropriate time” to seek contact with Jiang. In the conversation, the two men discussed bilateral issues including areas “of cooperation and disagreement.” Bush told Jiang that he was looking forward to his trip to the PRC in October. Bush also asked Jiang about two US scholars of Chinese origin arrested on espionage charges months ago during visits to the PRC. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said earlier Thursday that China had informed the US that the formal criminal trials of Gao Zhan and Li Shaoming had begun. Li, a US citizen, is a Hong Kong-based scholar who was arrested in the southern PRC in March. Another US citizen, Wu Jianmin, is still under arrest but has not been formally charged.
4. US Intelligence on PRC
The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, “PANEL FINDS CIA SOFT ON CHINA,” 7/6/01) reported that a commission of outside experts has concluded that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reporting on the PRC is biased and slanted toward a benign view of the country. According to US government officials and outside experts close to the panel, numerous classified intelligence reports on the PRC, including those on PRC military and security issues, were reviewed by a 12-member commission and found to be flawed. The commission concluded in a final report that PRC- related CIA intelligence reports and programs suffered from an “institutional predisposition” to play down or misinterpret national security problems posed by the PRC. The commission also said that CIA analysts had “overreached” in making many incorrect or misleading assessments about PRC military and political activities. The conclusions of the commission, headed by retired Army General John Tilelli, a former commander of US forces in Korea, are contained in a classified report. One official who has read the report said, “There were numerous instances where [CIA analysts] just missed it.” One US intelligence official close to the CIA said that the problem is that senior analysts have not done enough to foster a diversity of views on PRC security issues. The official said, “Their basic working assumption is that China must become a strategic partner. Analysts are promoted who hold those views.” [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for July 6, 2001.]
5. Japanese History Textbook
Kyodo News Service (“JAPAN TO REPLY TO CHINA, SOUTH KOREA OVER TEXTBOOK ON JULY 9,” Tokyo, 7/6/01) reported that Japanese government sources said Thursday that the government is considering replying to the PRC and the ROK on July 9 that Japan will not comply with their requests to revise a textbook which they say distorts history. Sources said that before making a reply, Japanese education minister Atsuko Toyama is expected to meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, possibly Friday, to confirm Japan’s final policy on the issue. Sources said that the Japanese government will tell the PRC and the ROK that the demands resulted mostly from a difference in historical view and that the portions in question should not be revised further.
II. Republic of Korea
1. Inter-Korean Talks
The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, “SOUTH-NORTH TALKS EXPECTED TO RESUME SOON: PRESIDENT KIM,” Seoul, 07/06/01) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung said Wednesday that dialogue between the two Koreas will resume sooner or later, ruling party officials said Thursday. “Inter-Korean relations will be put on the right track soon,” a party official quoted the President as saying during a meeting with key party officeholders. Kim was also quoted as saying that inter-Korean dialogue will resume as soon as the ROK and the DPRK settle a dispute over the Mt. Kumgang tourism business. The party official said that he was given the impression that the President was referring to the resumption of the fifth round of inter-Korean cabinet-level talks. Kim also said that he expects the ROK and the DPRK to discuss the agreed overland route to Mt. Kumgang, the resumption of the suspended work to link an inter-Korean railway, and the development of Kaeseong in the DPRK as an industrial complex. Kim’s latest remark bolstered speculation that the DPRK will return to the negotiating table as early as this month, as it came after top party and government officials presented similar opinions.
2. DPRK-PRC Relations
Joongang Ilbo (Kim Hee-sung, “JIANG ZEMIN SENDS REPLY TELEGRAM TO N.K.,” Seoul, 07/05/01) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin sent a reply telegram to DPRK Chairman Kim Jong-il today [June 5] for his earlier congratulatory message in the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Communist Party of China (CPC) which took place on July 1, Sunday. The DPRK’s Central News reported President Jiang in his reply message stressed that he believes in further strengthening of ties between the two nations as well as the two communist parties in the new era. Jiang also expressing gratitude toward Chairman Kim’s congratulatory telegram added he earnestly wishes good luck to the Chairman on his future projects to realize ‘non-reliant’ national reunification of two Koreas based on socialism. “It’s true that Pyongyang and Beijing are bettering their relations,” said one of the North Korea watchers in Seoul. “We have rumors that President Jiang will visit Pyongyang sometime around September in the diplomatic circles.”
3. Hwang Jang-yop’s US Visit
Chosun Ilbo (Heo Yong-bom, “HWANG’S US VISIT BECOMES DIPLOMATIC AFFAIR,” Seoul, 07/05/01) reported that the ROK government on Thursday refused to allow former DPRK Worker’s Party Secretary Hwang Jang-yop to visit the US to testify before Congress as invited, although he had faxed a letter of acceptance Wednesday. National Intelligence Service agents took Hwang and his aide Kim Deok-hong to an unknown location. Staff at the DPRK Defectors Association said that Hwang, its honorary chairman, was effectively under house arrest. Chuck Downs, a former aide to the Republican Policy Committee who delivered the invitation from the US Congress, criticized the ROK government, saying that it was silencing Hwang to help DPRK’s position. He added that Congress was shocked at the ROK government’s action, and that if it maintains its current posture, it will put Korea in a difficult situation. Susan Sholte, the chairwoman of the Defense Forum, which had also invited Hwang to testify, said on July 4 that the government’s action could have serious repercussions. Sources said that a National Security Council meeting called by Minister Lim Dong-won had agreed that there needed to be time for the US and the ROK to study and discuss Hwang’s security before any visit.
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