IN TODAY’S REPORT:
2. Clinton Trip to ROK, Japan
3. ROK-Japan Economic Cooperation
4. US-PRC Relations
5. India-Pakistan Talks
6. Russian Nuclear Arsenal
I. United States
1. US-DPRK Agreed Framework
US State Department Deputy Spokesman James Foley (“STATE DEPT. NOON BRIEFING, OCT. 5,” USIA Transcript, 10/05/98) refused comment on a report in the Washington Post that former US Defense Secretary William Perry may be named as a negotiator with the DPRK. Foley stated, “We’re certainly looking at ways, discussing internally ways to intensify our engagement on this all-important issue. But I have no information on any such nomination.”
2. Clinton Trip to ROK, Japan
The Associated Press (“WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES DATES FOR CLINTON TRIP TO JAPAN, S. KOREA,” Washington, 10/05/98) reported that White House press secretary Joe Lockhart announced Monday that US President Bill Clinton will visit Japan November 19-20 and the ROK November 21-22. The visits will follow Clinton’s attendance at an Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Malaysia.
3. ROK-Japan Economic Cooperation
Dow Jones Newswires (“JAPAN, S.KOREA TO SET UP BILATERAL ECON COUNCIL,” Tokyo 10/06/98) reported that Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano and ROK Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Park Tae-young on Tuesday agreed to set up an economic council to promote investments. The council, comprising both business representatives and government officials from the two countries, will primarily discuss Japan’s investments in the ROK. The agreement is expected to be endorsed during a summit meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and ROK President Kim Dae-jung in Tokyo Thursday. The council’s first meeting will be held in Seoul early December.
4. US-PRC Relations
The Associated Press (“CHINA ATTACKS U.S. DEFENSE BUDGET AWAITING CLINTON APPROVAL,” Beijing, 10/06/98) reported that the PRC warned Tuesday that ties with the US could be damaged by the US$270.5 billion defense authorization bill which the US Congress sent to President Bill Clinton on Thursday. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said that the bill “contained some anti-China clauses,” including continued US arms sales to Taiwan and inclusion of Taiwan in a missile defense system. Zhu said that signing the bill into law “will create obstacles to the improvement and development of China-U.S. relations. This will also be detrimental to the security and stability of Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region.” He added, “The Chinese side hereby expresses its deep concern and strong opposition to this. We hope the U.S. government can take effective measures to prevent the above mentioned anti-China clauses from becoming law.” He also urged the US to refrain from selling advanced weapons to Taiwan “to avoid damage to China-U.S. relations.”
5. India-Pakistan Talks
The Associated Press (“INDIA, PAKISTAN TO ADDRESS KASHMIR CONFLICT IN OCT-NOV TALKS,” New Delhi, 10/06/98) reported that India and Pakistan on Tuesday set a schedule for detailed discussions on Kashmir and other issues. The top bureaucrat of India’s foreign ministry will visit the Pakistani capital of Islamabad October 15-18 to discuss peace and security and the conflicting territorial claims to Kashmir. Pakistani officials will then travel to the Indian capital of New Delhi November 5- 13 to take up other issues, including terrorism, drug trafficking, a navigation project, the demarcation of maritime boundary, economic and commercial cooperation, and cultural exchanges.
6. Russian Nuclear Arsenal
Reuters (“DEP PM SAYS RUSSIA MUST CUT, UPGRADE NUCLEAR ARMS,” Moscow, 10/06/98) and the Associated Press (Vladimir Isachenkov, “RUSSIA POL WANTS NUKES UPDATED,” Moscow, 10/05/98) reported that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov said on Tuesday that Russia could no longer afford to maintain thousands of nuclear warheads and needed a program to streamline and modernize its strategic forces. Maslyukov, in a statement published by Interfax news agency, said that Russia could only afford several hundred nuclear warheads at most and, with Soviet-era weaponry fast becoming obsolete, must press on with START II, START III and other arms limitation treaties with the US to preserve the nuclear balance. He stated, “We must guarantee that, in case of any unforeseen incident, we have a strong nuclear shield that would ensure our security and be capable of inflicting irreparable damage to the enemy.”
II. Republic of Korea
1. ROK Contributions to US Military
According to the recently published 1998-1999 Defense White Paper, the ROK contributed a total amount of US$2.2033 billion to support the US forces stationed in the ROK last year, through cash payments and the provision of real estate and services. This amount represents an amount equal to 15 percent of the 1997 defense budget of 13.794 trillion won. (Korea Times, “KOREA ANNUALLY CONTRIBUTES TO $2.2 BILLION TO US TROOPS HERE,” 10/07/98)
2. DPRK Aid
The DPRK received aid worth US$950.98 million from the ROK, foreign countries, and international organizations from 1995 to last month, ROK Unification Ministry officials said Monday. The ROK provided US$307.97 million–US$273.42 million from the government and US$34.55 million from non-governmental organizations. The UN and international non-government organizations offered US$643.01 million to help the DPRK over the past four years, according to the officials. (Korea Times, “NK RECEIVES $950 MILLION IN INTL’ AID,” 10/07/98)
3. US President To Visit ROK and Japan
US President Bill Clinton will spend two days in Japan and two in the ROK in November after attending an Asia Pacific Economic Conference in Malaysia, the White House announced Monday. The Japan and ROK stops were added to Clinton’s Asia travel schedule after he decided to drop plans to visit India and Pakistan. The White House last week said that the president would not go to India and Pakistan until more progress is made in discussions about those countries’ nuclear weapons programs. Clinton will visit Japan November 19-20 and the ROK November 21-22, White House press secretary Joe Lockhart said. No other details were available. (Korea Times, “WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES DATES FOR CLINTON TRIP TO Japan, S. KOREA,” 10/07/98)
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Moscow, Russian Federation
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Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Shanghai, People’s Republic of China