CONTENTS
1. DPRK-US Relations
2. DPRK-EU Relations
3. ROK-US Relations
4. ROK-Japan Relations
5. Cross-Straits Relations
6. Taiwan Vice President Peace Award
7. PRC-US Relations
8. PRC Nuclear Weapons
9. Japan’s View on Terrorism
10. Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction
II. Republic of Korea 1. Kim Dae-jung’s view on Korean Unification
2. DPRK-Russia Relations
3. DPRK-Japan Relations
I. United States
1. DPRK-US Relations
The Associated Press (“N. KOREA SAYS U.S. BEING AGGRESSIVE,” Seoul, 12/08/01), Agence France-Presse, (“NORTH KOREA SAYS IT IS NOT AFRAID OF WAR,” 12/09/01) and Reuters (“NORTH KOREA SAYS IN ‘FULL COMBAT PREPAREDNESS’ FOR U.S.,” Seoul, 12/09/01) reported that the DPRK accused the US of planning to attack the DPRK after the war in Afghanistan. The DPRK newspaper Rodong Sinmun wrote, “The US designation of the DPRK as the target of the post-Afghanistan war operation compels the Korean people to be in full combat preparedness to lay down their lives for the country. The DPRK is not Afghanistan. The DPRK is ready for defense and attack.” The Rodong Sinmun went on to say that US calls for talks with the DPRK were a “peace hoax” and repeated the DPRK’s recent accusation that the US was using its anti-terrorism campaign to prepare to attack the DPRK. An ROK Defense Ministry spokesman said that he was unable to comment on whether any unusual troop movements had been detected in the DPRK.
2. DPRK-EU Relations
The Financial Times (Andrew Ward, “EUROPE’S BOND WITH NORTH KOREA GROWS CLOSER,” Seoul, 12/10/01) reported that the European Union has sent two high-powered delegations to the DPRK since May. Anthony Stokes, political secretary at the British embassy in Seoul, said “When there is no dialogue between the US and North Korea it underlines the value of Europe playing a positive role. We’re not trying to take over from the US in Korea, we’re just trying to help.” Kim Sang-woo, a ruling party member of the ROK’s foreign affairs committee stated that ROK President Kim Dae-jung “wanted to thank Europe for its efforts and encourage it to continue the process.” Despite Europe’s high profile in the DPRK, EU ambassador to the DPRK Frank Hesske cautions that Europe’s role should not be exaggerated. “Europe is not on the frontline in Korea, so our relations can be smoother than others.”
3. ROK-US Relations
The Korea Times (Sohn Suk-joo, “SAM-X PROJECT TO BE PUT OFF UNTIL NEXT YEAR,” 12/10/01) reported that the ROK Defense Ministry said on December 9 that it would put off its two-trillion-won SAM-X military procurement project until a more appropriate time next year because its negotiations over the price offered by the US broke down without agreement over the weekend. An unnamed ROK Defense ministry official stated, “The schedule of payment didn’t fit what we think is appropriate, so it is unavoidable to delay the project until some time next year.” The SAM-X project is aimed at replacing the ROK’s outdated Nike Hercules missiles, which have accidentally fired on several occasions. Currently, the ROK has 190 Nike Hercules missiles but it is questioned whether they could be used in the event of an emergency. The ROK is the only country in the world that still deploys Nike missiles.
4. ROK-Japan Relations
Reuters (“JAPANESE AND KOREANS SUE KOIZUMI OVER SHRINE VISIT,” 12/07/01) reported that a group of Japanese and ROK citizens on Friday filed a lawsuit against Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his government over his visit to the Yakusuni Shrine, saying it violated the Japanese constitution. The latest lawsuit was filed by 243 plaintiffs including four citizens of the ROK and the Society for the Bereaved Families of the Pacific War, an ROK organization. The other 238 plaintiffs are Japanese. The plaintiffs allege that the visit violated article 20 of Japan’s constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. Akira Maeda, a 45-year-old professor at Tokyo Zokei University and a plaintiff, stated at a news conference, “I would like people to think about how seriously this has been hurting Japan’s international reputation.” Koizumi has declined to clarify whether the visit was official or private, merely saying he paid homage as “Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi” and that he used his own money to pay for a floral offering sent in his name.
5. Cross-Straits Relations
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (“TAIWAN’S SPIES PULLED OUT OF CHINA, REPORT SAYS,” Taipei, 12/10/01) reported an unidentified source told the Taiwan newspaper the United Daily News on Monday that Taiwan has decided to suspend its espionage activities in the PRC to appease PRC officials and protect its operatives. Taiwan intelligence units have decided to suspend or reduce six spying programs, and have received approval from authorities. The source said, “The first reason is to show goodwill towards China. The second is because Taiwan’s spying work in China has suffered setbacks in the past three years.”
The Central News Agency (“TAIWANESE, CHINESE POLICE TO DISCUSS HUMAN SMUGGLING, DRUG TRAFFICKING,” Taipei, 12/10/01) reported that a Taiwanese police delegation, headed by Cheng Ching-sung, director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau under the National Police Administration, left for the PRC on December 10 on a fact-finding mission. This is the first time that senior Taiwan police officers have visited the PRC to promote bilateral cooperation in cracking down on crime. Cheng said, “In addition to exchanging views on halting cross-strait human and firearm smuggling as well as drug trafficking, the two sides will also discuss cooperation in fighting economic crimes following their accession to the World Trade Organization.” The delegation is scheduled to visit the PRC’s Ministry of Public Security and the Public Security Bureau under the Beijing City Government Tuesday. During its 12-day visit, the delegation will also meet public security authorities in Shanghai and Guangdong and Fujian provinces as well as the PRC Police Society. The visit was organized by the private Taipei-based Criminal Investigation and Prevention Association (CIPA).
6. Taiwan Vice President Peace Award
Agence France-Presse (“TAIWAN VICE PRESIDENT GIVEN PEACE AWARD,” 12/09/01) reported that Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu received an international peace award on December 9. The award recognized Lu’s contributions to safeguarding freedom, democracy and justice in Taiwan and elsewhere in the world. At the award ceremony, Lu said, “This honor is the achievement of all 23 million people in Taiwan…. I have never resorted to violence…. I have always led people with my ideals through peaceful and democratic means, even at the price of sacrifice to myself.” Lu became the first female winner of its annual award. Past recipients include former US president Ronald Reagan, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
7. PRC-US Relations
The China Post, (Chris Cockel, “MAINLAND MILITARY UPS INTERCEPTS OF U.S. RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT,” Washington, 12/09/01) carried an article from the Washington Times that reported that the PRC’s military has increased its intercepts of US reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace off the coast of the PRC. According to U.S. defense officials, an encounter on November 7 involved an unidentified type of PRC interceptor jet flying alongside a US Air Force RC-135 monitoring aircraft off the coast. The interceptor jet came within 1,000 feet of the US jet, according to the report. On another occasion a US EP-3 surveillance aircraft came within 500 feet of a PRC jet over the East China Sea, says the report. These recent encounters mark a change, as the PRC had been maintaining a distance of several miles from US planes since early April.
8. PRC Nuclear Weapons
The China Post, (Chris Cockel, “U.S. MONITORS MAINLAND NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS,” 12/09/01) reported that US intelligence agencies are monitoring nuclear weapons-related experiments at the Lop Nur test facility in the PRC’s Xinjiang province. The test, according to the report, produced no detectable nuclear yield or blast. Other similar tests were reported from US intelligence imagery in July, according to the paper. The latest tests are part of the PRC’s strategic nuclear weapons buildup that includes two new road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, and a new class of ballistic missile submarines, said the report.
9. Japan’s View on Terrorism
The Associated Press (“JAPAN: TERRORISM IS A NATIONAL ISSUE,” Washington, 12/10/01) and Agence France-Presse (“JAPAN’S DEFENSE CHIEF LEAVES FOR US,” 12/09/01) reported that US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld lauded Japan for its contributions to the war against terrorism after meeting Monday with Gen Nakatani, the director general of Japan’s Defense Agency. Rumsfeld stated, “We had an excellent visit and a great deal to talk about.” He said that the war in Afghanistan and missile defense were part of their talks at the Pentagon. Rumsfeld added, “We appreciate what they’re doing a great deal, and it is helping, and it is important.” Nakatani stated, “We strongly support U.S. action fighting against terrorism. We take this fight against terrorism as our own security issue.”
10. Japan’s Role in Afghanistan Reconstruction
Agence France-Presse (“JAPAN MILITARY DEPLOYS ABROAD FOR FIRST TIME IN AFGHAN SUPPORT OPERATION,” 12/09/01) reported that on December 8 Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi briefed European Union officials on Japan’s strategic support for the US-led war in Afghanistan. In the 10th EU-Japan summit, Koizumi reiterated that Japan now had six naval vessels in the Indian Ocean supplying fuel, supplies, troop and refugee transport and other logistical support for US, British and other forces militarily engaged in Afghanistan. Koizumi’s spokesman, Norio Hattori, said that Japan, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the EU would hold an “Afghanistan reconstruction steering committee meeting” in Brussels December 21-22 to discuss the future Afghanistan government. Hattori also reported that Japan was assisting Pakistan. He stated, “We have already given Pakistan 40 million dollars since September 11 and on top of that we have pledged another 300 million dollars within two years,” but he insisted that Japan would keep a tight rein on those funds to ensure they are not used for military purposes. In addition, Hattori said that Japan has “grudgingly frozen” the economic sanctions it imposed on Pakistan and India in 1998. He stated, “This is a particularly sensitive issue for the Japanese since we are the only people to have suffered a nuclear attack, but we did this because these two countries are now facing great difficulties in coping with the post-September 11 situation.” In a joint declaration on terrorism, Japan and the EU condemned the September 11 attacks on the United States as “a direct challenge to the international community as a whole.” They agreed to support UN efforts to “install in Afghanistan a legitimate, broad-based, multi-ethnic government committed to establishing human rights … humanitarian assistance to refugees … assistance for reconstruction of post-war Afghanistan … and assistance to Pakistan and other neighboring countries.”
II. Republic of Korea
1. Kim Dae-jung’s view on Korean Unificaiton
Joongang Ilbo (“PRESIDENT KIM FORECASTS REUNIFICATION OF TWO KOREAS WITHIN 20 YEARS,” Seoul, 12/09/01) reported that in his interview with Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung ROK President Kim Dae-jung forecasted, “The peaceful reunification between the North and South Korea would be realized within 20 years.” Kim also pointed out that the continued support and cooperation from the international society is a must for the ROK to continue improving its ties with the DPRK.
2. DPRK-Russia Relations
Joongang Ilbo (“MAKE BETTER USE OF DPRK-RUSSIA RELATIONS, SAYS ANALYSIS,” Seoul, 12/09/01) reported that the ROK should make effective use of the DPRK- Russia relations to induce the DPRK to join in international efforts to fight against terrorism, said the new analysis from Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security Sunday. “The September 11 incident and the US-led anti-terror movements have caused the DPRK to feel threatened,” Prof. Goh Jae-nam of the institute said. “Because Russia is participating in anti-terror efforts we may be able to persuade the DPRK to join in the latest international trend as well,” he said.
3. DPRK-Japan Relations
Joongang Ilbo (“KOIZUMI EXPRESSES REGRETS FOR STALLED JAPAN-DPRK RELATIONS,” Seoul, 12/09/01) reported that while visiting Belgium Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed regret toward the stalemate in relations between Japan and the DPRK. “Despite Japan’s donation of 500,000 metric tons of rice to the North no progress is seen in resolving the Japanese abduction issue,” Mr. Koizumi said. The Prime Minister also emphasized importance of aiding ROK’s engagement policy.
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Center for American Studies,
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Monash Asia Institute,
Monash University, Clayton, Australia
Brandon Yu: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Kim Hee-sun: khs688@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Hibiki Yamaguchi: hibikiy@dh.mbn.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan
Rumiko Seya: rumiko-seya@geocities.co.jp
Tokyo, Japan
Hiroya Takagi: hiroya_takagi@hotmail.com
Tokyo, Japan
Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation
Wu Chunsi: cswu@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
John McKay: John.McKay@adm.monash.edu.au
Clayton, Australia