CONTENTS
1. Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks
2. DPRK Missile Sales
II. Republic of Korea 1. Inter-Korean Talks
2. US Welcomes DPRK’s Commitment Against Terrorism
3. DPRK Economic Policy
III. People’s Republic of China 1. PRC-ROK Relations
2. PRC Scholar’s View on Korean Peace
3. PRC Position on Anti-terrorism
4. Japanese Troop Deployment
5. Cross-Strait Relations
I. United States
1. Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks
Reuters (“KOREAS FAR APART AS MINISTERS MEET IN NORTH RESORT,” Seoul, 11/9/01) and The Associated Press (“SOUTH KOREA PROPOSES RESUMING STALLED EXCHANGES IN TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA,” Seoul, 11/9/01) both reported that inter-Korean ministerial talks opened Friday. ROK Unification Minister Hong Soon-young had sought to use the talks to reschedule reunions of separated families and revive stalled talks on economic and tourism issues, but the DPRK instead opened talks blaming the ROK for the stalemate. In remarks issued by the DPRK’s official Korea Central News Agency, DPRK delegation head Kim Ryong-song said, “In spite of such positive stand and efforts on the part of the North side, the South side created an unexpected dangerous situation by seriously provoking its dialogue partner.” Kim urged the ROK to take “steps to defuse the present tense situation and atmosphere including the lifting of the ’emergency alert’, first of all.” Hong voiced “regret” that the DPRK made an issue of the security alert and reiterated the ROK explanation that the measures were not directed at the DPRK. It was unclear whether ROK food aid was discussed. Hong had said in Seoul that any food aid would be conditional on the DPRK’s agreement to hold the planned family reunions soon.
2. DPRK Missile Sales
The Associated Press (George Gedda, “N. KOREA SAID TRYING TO SELL MISSILES,” Washington, 11/9/01) reported that an unnamed Bush administration official said that the DPRK is trying to sell missiles to three or four countries in Asia and the Middle East. The official refused to identify the countries but stated that they are concentrated in an area west of the PRC to the Mediterranean Sea. There was no confirmation, but the DPRK and Egypt were said to have reached final agreement on a missile sale.
II. Republic of Korea
1. Inter-Korean Talks
The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, “INTER-KOREAN TALKS ON FAMILY REUNIONS, TERRORISM BEGIN,” Mount Kumgang, DPRK, 11/09/01) reported that cabinet officials from the two Koreas began their four-day talks on November 8, after a 39-member ROK delegation arrived in Mount Kumgang. The DPRK’s chief delegate, Kim Ryong-song, and his ROK counterpart, Unification Minister Hong Soon-young, were to open official talks on Friday in hopes of rescheduling a number of joint projects. Hong said, “Based on these understandings, we will discuss how to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula.” Other agenda items include postponed negotiations on reviving the Mount Kumgang tourism project and joint economic projects, such as the planned reconnection of cross-border rail and road links.
2. US View of DPRK Anti-Terrorism
The Korea Herald (Hwang Jang-jin, “U.S. WELCOMES NORTH KOREA’S PLAN TO JOIN TERRORISM PACT,” Seoul, 11/09/01) reported that US ambassador to the ROK Thomas Hubbard on November 8 welcomed the DPRK’s recent decision to join a UN treaty to block the financing of terrorist organizations and urged the DPRK to do more to contribute to global efforts against terrorism. Hubbard said in a speech to a group of ROK legislators, “Reportedly, North Korea plans to sign the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. We welcome this step. There is more North Korea can do. This is an opportunity for all countries to join the large family of nations who have chosen to stand up against terrorism.” He added, “We share your hopes that the most recently scheduled ministerial meetings will prove fruitful.”
3. DPRK Economic Policy
Joongang Ilbo (Kim Hee-sung, “CHAIRMAN KIM JONG-IL PUTS WEIGHT ON PRACTICAL ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT,” Seoul, 11/08/01) reported that the October 29th edition of Chosun Sinbo, a monthly newspaper issued by a pro-DPRK group in Japan, said that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il has repeatedly highlighted the importance of “profit-oriented” economic management. Kim reportedly said, “One must find new ways to resolve the economic management that is in line with socialist principles yet generate as much profit as possible.” Defining the term “sili” or “profit” as an efficient usage of resources to boost the nation and the welfare of the people, Kim went further to state that all fields need to produce profit through rational management and operation. Kim said, “The workers in the economic field must also go through a revolutionary change in the way they perceive and think from now on,” urging the workers of executive circles to make a difference in renovating the existing working style.
III. People’s Republic of China
1. PRC-ROK Relations
People’s Daily (Shi Xiaohui, “ZHU RONGJI MEETS WITH KIM DAE-JUNG,” Bandar seri Begawan, 11/6/01, P3) reported that PRC Premier Zhu Rongji held talks with ROK President Kim Dae-jung on November 5 in Bandar seri Begawan, on the sidelines of the ASEAN plus Three (China, Japan and ROK) meetings. They discussed bilateral ties and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Zhu said the PRC will use the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the PRC and the ROK as an opportunity to bring bilateral relations to a new high. On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Kim briefed Zhu on the latest developments in the relations between the two sides of the peninsula and thanked the PRC for its support in promoting peace and stability on the peninsula. Zhu said that the PRC strongly supports the improvement of relations between the ROK and DPRK and hopes that reconciliation and the independent resolution of peaceful unification happens soon.
People’s Daily (Bo Shuangqi, “FM SPOKESMAN ON EXECUTION OF ROK DRUG TRAFFICKER,” Beijing, 11/2/01, P4) reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said on November 1 that the PRC government had informed the related authorities of the ROK before a convicted ROK drug trafficker was executed. Zhu made this statement in response to a question on the ROK’s protest that the PRC had executed Shin Ok-doo, an ROK man convicted of drug trafficking, without giving prior notification to the ROK government. He added that according to an in-depth investigation conducted by the PRC government, PRC administrators did immediately inform their ROK counterparts after Shin was detained and arrested. The PRC also notified the ROK Embassy in Beijing regarding the time and venue of Shin’s first trial. Zhu said that the Provincial Government of northeast Heilongjiang Province also sent the ratified execution judgment by the PRC Supreme People’s Court to the ROK Consulate in Shenyang shortly after the judgment was ratified by the Supreme People’s Court.
2. PRC Scholar’s View on Korean Peace
China Daily (Jin Xide, “KOREAN PEACE PROCESS NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD,” 11/5/01, P4) carried an article written by Jin Xide, a researcher with the Institute of Japanese Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Jin wrote that following the historic summit meeting between DPRK President Kim Jong-il and ROK President Kim Dae-jung last June, more talks are expected to gradually replace the hostile confrontations between the two countries. On the other hand, Jin pointed out that the US is unwilling to see its prominence in Asia vanish and is striving to regain its dominant role in the area by laying obstacles to the reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. Jin asserted that both sides should try to shake off US influence and independently strengthen bilateral exchanges by cooperating on economic and security issues. Jin concluded that the fate of the two sides on the Korean Peninsula should be decided by themselves, without any external interference.
3. PRC Position on Anti-Terrorism
People’s Daily (Chen Gang, “CHINA TO ENTER TWO ANTI-TERRORISM INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS,” Beijing, 11/9/01, P4) reported that the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress has ratified the PRC accession to the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, and the State Council of China has also decided to sign the International Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism. According to the report, PRC Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao made the announcement at a press conference on November 8. Zhu said that PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan will submit the book of documents about the PRC’s accession to the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, and sign the International Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism during the UN-hosted meetings scheduled for November 10-16.
4. Japanese Troop Deployment
China Daily (“DPRK BLASTS JAPAN’S NEW LAW ON TROOP DEPLOYMENT,” Seoul, 11/7/01, P12) reported that the DPRK on November 6 condemned Japan for enacting a new law that allows its troops to provide non-combat support for the war on terrorism, saying Japan is “rushing headlong toward militarist expansion.” DPRK state media said that the law’s enactment was a sign of resurgent militarism. A DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by the state news agency KCNA as saying, “This indicates that Japan has finally embarked upon the road of realizing its wild ambition for overseas expansion of which it has dreamt for the more than 50 years since its defeat” in World War II.
China Daily (Zhang Xia, “MILITARY AMBITION IS BEHIND ANTI-TERRORISM HELP,” 11/2/01, P4) reported that approved legislation that has led to the authorization of Japan’s military giving support to the US-led war on terrorism is causing wide discomfort in the PRC. Feng Zhaokui, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that despite the pledge to contribute to anti-terrorism, the motivations “behind the scene” for passing the bill should not be neglected. Yang Yunzhong, a researcher with the Jinan Army Academy in Shandong Province said that compared with the bill passed during the Gulf War in 1991, which was confined to providing financial aid, today’s legislation is bestowed with a heavier military significance. Yang said, “Japan is relying on the US to become a political and military giant. But its Asian neighbors are deeply suspicious of whether it will be a responsible one.”
5. Cross-Strait Relations
China Daily (Xing Zhigang, “DOUBTS CLOUD SINCERITY OF TAIPEI’S NEW POLICY,” 11/8/01, P2) reported that the PRC will adopt a wait-and-see attitude towards Taiwan’s relaxation of restrictions on trade with the PRC, signaling a hint of suspicion over the true aim of the policy shift. A Beijing-based Taiwan affairs experts said that a shift in economic policies while shunning the political stumbling block are not enough to herald any ice-breaking move in cross-Straits ties. A source with the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council of China said, “We need more time to observe their actual actions before giving our judgment.” The source stressed, “What matters is how you implement a policy, not the policy itself.” He indicated that the PRC is not fully satisfied with the policy as it fell short of a total removal of barriers on investment in the PRC. However, he said, the PRC is ready to offer its cooperation as long as a move is conducive to the interests of Taiwan and the development of cross-Straits relations.
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