CONTENTS
1. Kim Jong-il’s Russian Trip
2. US-PRC Relations
II. Republic of Korea 1. Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation
2. US Troops in ROK
3. DPRK on ROK Media Reform
I. United States
1. Kim Jong-il’s Russian Trip
The Associated Press (“N. KOREA LEADER HEADS HOME AFTER MOSCOW TRIP,” Moscow, 8/9/01) reported that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il met with Russian President Vladimir Putin before leaving Moscow on August 7 and headed back to the DPRK by train. The official Russian press service said that details of Kim’s brief meeting with Putin in the Kremlin were not released. It came after Kim abruptly canceled sightseeing plans in Moscow and spent much of the day in his hotel. After a nine-day journey from the DPRK border to Moscow, a stay in the capital and a two-day tour of Saint Petersburg, Kim and his 21-car train departed Moscow about 6 pm on for a 10-day trip back. [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for August 9, 2001.]
2. US-PRC Relations
The Associated Press (Ted Anthony, “US SENATORS: CHINA PRESIDENT CANDID,” Beijing, 8/9/01) reported that a U.S. congressional delegation said Thursday that PRC President Jiang Zemin offered candor, stubbornness and a commitment to reinvigorating relations with the US. In a meeting with four US senators, Jiang acknowledged his nation’s legal shortcomings, emphasized his advocacy of a market economy and denied reports that the PRC sold missile technology to Pakistan. US Senator Fred Thompson, a Tennessee Republican, said, “I think the message he was trying to deliver is, ‘Hey – I’m not a bad guy. We want to get this relationship back on track.’ We have been friends in the past when we had a common enemy or opponent, and our challenge now is to be friends when we don’t.” The US senators met with PRC Premier Zhu Rongji late Thursday. According to the PRC’s official Xinhua news agency, Zhu said, “China cannot and will not be a threat to the United States or any other countries in the world.” The US senators also talked with PRC Defense Minister Chi Haotian and other officials in meetings they said totaled four hours. Specter said that US lawmakers support closer economic ties to the PRC, “but we wouldn’t do it if our national interests were threatened by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
II. Republic of Korea
1. Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation
Joongang Ilbo (“INTER-KOREAN IT COMPLEX TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THIS YEAR,” Seoul, 08/08/01) reported that the first-ever inter-Korean IT complex is likely to be completed by late this year in Pyongyang. Ntrack Co., approved as the business partner of inter-Korean IT project, held a joint press conference with its other business groups in the ROK to announce the likely completion of the IT complex in Pyongyang within this year. The agreement has the animation-producing Hahn Shin Cooperation and online game contents service provider Global Web to make a use of IT personnel in the DPRK in producing and exporting animation, game and internet software. The upcoming IT complex will be constructed at a site as large as 26,000 pyong (85,800 square meters) with a total floor space of 5,400 pyong (17,820 square meters). As a first step, a 500-pyong (1,650 square meters) large research center is expected to be established within next month. “North Korea has big hopes for the latest IT complex and we have reconfirmed that fact from out latest business trip to Pyongyang,” Lim Wan-geun the representative of the Ntrack said. “We plan to seek more business partners ahead to make full use of the North’s 2,500 IT workers,” he added.
2. US Troops in ROK
The Korea Times (Seo Soo-min, “KIM IL-SUNG ACCEPTED PRESENCE OF USFK,” 8/9/01) reported that in an interview with the ROK-run Korea Broadcasting System, former US President Jimmy Carter said on August 6 that late DPRK leader Kim Il-sung approved of the presence of US forces in the ROK (USFK). Carter said that during his meeting with Kim in June 1994, Kim recognized the need for the USFK’s presence for regional security, and pointed out the necessity of a mutual armed forces reduction. Carter said, “He (Kim Il-sung) also said that North Korea should reduce 50 percent, South Korea should reduce 50 percent, and the U.S. should reduce 50 percent, but to allow U.S. forces in Korea, that’s what he promised.” Carter, who is in the ROK from August 5-11 for the Habitat for Humanity project, said that he is willing to make another visit to the DPRK and urge its leader to make the return visit to the ROK. Carter said, “Kim Jong-il should make a return visit to Seoul regardless of what Washington says.” [Ed. note: This article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for August 9, 2001.]
The Korea Times (“US WILL ONLY DISCUSS US TROOP ISSUE WITH SEOUL,” Washington, 8/9/01) and Joongang Ilbo (Kim Hee-sung, “U.S. TROOPS ISSUE STRICTLY BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND SEOUL – DOD,” Seoul, 08/08/01) reported that the US Department of Defense (DOD) made it clear that the issue of US troop withdrawal is strictly between the ROK and the US and is not be determined by outside demands on Tuesday. “We will discuss U.S. troop presence in South Korea with the government of South Korea; that is who we discuss that with,” US Rear Admiral Craig R. Quigley said in Tuesday’s briefing. “And the views of outside governments in that have — are not the determining factor. It’s the views of the United States government and the government of South Korea.” The admiral’s response came amid the joint statement issued by DPRK Leader Kim Jong-il and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday that called for removal of US troops in Korean Peninsula in order to accelerate the reunification process of the two Koreas. [Ed. note: The Korea Times article was included in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for August 9, 2001.]
3. DPRK on ROK Media Reform
Chosun Ilbo (Kim Kwang-im, “NK ACTIVELY REPORTING ON MEDIA REFORM IN SOUTH,” Seoul, 08/08/01) reported that DPRK media, including the Workers Party organ, the Rodong Shinmun. have reported 63 stories concerning the tax investigation into ROK newspapers and broadcasters from April up to August 4. Of the total, some 37 (60 percent) dealt with the Chosun Ilbo; nine by the Rodong Shinmun, 17 by Pyongyang, Propaganda and Central Radios, and 11 by the Central News Agency.
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