CONTENTS
1. DPRK-US Talks
2. Remains of US Soldiers from Korean War
3. DPRK, PRC Missile Transfer to Iran
4. PRC-Russia Space Deal
5. PRC Response to US Missile Defense
6. Cross-Strait Relations
7. US-Japan Treaty Anniversary
II. Republic of Korea 1. ROK-DPRK Talks
2. DPRK Arms Control
3. US-ROK Military Sales
III. Japan 1. Japan-ROK Relations
2. Japan-PRC Relations
I. United States
1. DPRK-US Talks
The Associated Press (Christopher Torchia, “SOUTH KOREA APPEALS TO NORTH KOREA,” Seoul, 9/9/01) reported that ROK Foreign Minister Han Seung-soo urged the DPRK on September 9 to resume negotiations with the US as soon as possible. Han told ROK station Arirang TV, “We hope that they will take up that initiative as early as possible. The ball is on the North Korean side. We do not have any difference of opinion as far as inter-Korean relations are concerned. We hope that this fact should be known” to the DPRK. The Yonhap news agency reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung said on September 8 that negotiators at the ROK talks next weekend will work toward an agreement on reconnecting a cross-border railway.
2. Remains of US Soldiers from Korean War
USA Today (Barbara Slavin, “TEAMS TO START SEARCH FOR U.S. REMAINS AT CHOSIN,” 9/10/01) reported that US and DPRK teams will begin this week to try to recover the remains of nearly 1,000 US soldiers who died in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. US officials said that the site, 125 miles northeast of Pyongyang, is twice as deep into the nation as other missions allowed by DPRK since 1996. The US Defense Department has stressed to the DPRK the need to provide adequate communications and medical evacuation if needed for the 14 US researchers at their base camp. The recovery mission ends October 2, but another team is scheduled to work for 30 more days. [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for September 10, 2001.]
3. DPRK, PRC Missile Transfer to Iran
Reuters (Jim Wolf, “RUSSIA, N.KOREA, CHINA GIVE IRAN MISSILE AID-CIA,” Washington, 9/7/01) reported that US Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet told the US Congress on September 7 that Russian, DPRK, and PRC “entities” supplied fresh ballistic missile-related equipment and know-how to Iran last year, moving it toward self-sufficiency in long-range missile production. Tenet said, “During the second half of 2000, entities in Russia, North Korea, and China continued to supply crucial ballistic missile-related equipment, technology and expertise to Iran.” He added that during the last six months of the year, the PRC, like Russia, “continued to take a very narrow interpretation of its bilateral nonproliferation commitments with the United States.” Tenet said that despite last November’s pledge not to assist, in any way, any country in the development of ballistic missiles that can be used to deliver nuclear weapons, PRC entities, unnamed in the report’s unclassified version, provided Pakistan with missile-related technical assistance in the second half of last year. The report said that the DPRK, for its part, continued to export significant ballistic missile-related equipment, components, materials and technical know-how to counties in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa last year.
4. PRC-Russia Space Deal
Florida Today (Steven Siceloff, “RUSSIA-CHINA DEAL MAKES NASA UNEASY,” 9/10/01) reported that an emerging relationship between Russian and PRC space agencies has caused increased concern for the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). For one thing, the Russian Space Agency already has a hard time completing crucial supply spacecraft for the International Space Station, but it has committed to build a spacecraft for the PRC and help train PRC astronauts, possibly making the space station a lower priority. Second, NASA has no ties with the PRC and analysts suggest that Russia could funnel US information to the PRC. Third, any improvements in PRC rockets means more reliable PRC nuclear missiles. Charles Vick, space policy analyst for the Federation of American Scientists, said, “The Chinese space program is a military program using military hardware and overseen by the military.” Jesco von Puttkamer, a technical advisor for NASA said, “When I was in Moscow last week, there was a public announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov that Russia and China are negotiating a deal for Russia to develop a manned space craft for China, and for joint use of Russia’s GLONASS satellite navigation system. Apparently, according to an RSC-Energia spokesman, RSC-E expects to play ‘the leading role’ in Russia’s effort to help China’s manned space program.” Australia-based PRC observer Steven Pietrobon said that the relationship between Russia and the PRC could mean more stability for the International Space Station (ISS). Pietrobon said, “If Russia can earn some money from the Chinese, this is good because this will give stability to a key partner in ISS. I guess how much NASA should worry would depend on how much NASA trusts Russia to maintain its agreements.” Rick Fisher, a PRC analyst for the Jamestown Foundation, said that the PRC’s People’s Liberation Army will look to the manned program to make its missiles and rockets more reliable and to test electronics that would be used in new spy satellites. Fisher said the impetus behind the PRC surge is an attempt to prop up the ruling communist party. He said, “The manned space program is first and foremost a nationalist tool, which the communist party will use to strengthen its nationalistic credentials.”
5. PRC Response to US Missile Defense
Reuters (“CHINA SOFTENS LANGUAGE OVER U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE,” Beijing, 9/8/01) reported that the PRC on September 7 called on the US to act cautiously on its missile defense plans. The comments by PRC spokesman Zhu Bangzao appeared to be a departure from previous assertions of outright opposition to US missile defense plans. Zhu said that US plans to develop its missile defense system were bound to damage the international strategic balance and stability and harm the common security of all countries. Zhu also noted contradictions in media reports and official US government comments last week.
6. Cross-Strait Relations
Reuters (Jeremy Page, “CHINA DETAILS TAIWAN UNIFICATION OFFER,” Beijing, 9/10/01) reported that PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen detailed on Monday the freedoms that Taiwan would enjoy if it reunified with the mainland under a formula applied to Hong Kong and Macao. Qian told a forum on the PRC in the 21st Century that under “one country, two systems,” “Taiwan may continue to use the New Taiwan Dollar, retain its armed forces, maintain its status as a separate customs territory and keep its government structure. The mainland will not levy taxes in Taiwan, not even one cent, nor will it take any money from Taiwan. The way of life of the Taiwanese people will remain unchanged and Taiwan’s entrepreneurs will have their properties intact. Taiwan will make independent choices on personnel matters and the mainland will not send any official to take office in Taiwan.” However, Qian also stressed that Taiwan must accept the “one China” principle, which he defined as: “There is but one China in the world; both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.” He added, “As long as the Taiwan authorities agree to the one China principle for the settlement of the Taiwan question, we have the patience to wait. We cannot afford to renounce the use of force because that would encourage Taiwan independence elements and would then make peaceful reunification impossible to achieve.” An official at the Taiwan cabinet’s mainland affairs council said, “The ‘new’ proposals are still unacceptable because China still sees the island as a province.”
7. US-Japan Treaty Anniversary
The San Francisco Chronicle (Charles Burress, Ryan Kim, Elizabeth Fernandez, “WAR MEMORIES MAR PEACE OBSERVANCE,” 09/09/01) reported that the US and Japan on Saturday observed the 50th anniversary of their Peace Treaty in a War Memorial Opera House ceremony. Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka stated, “We have never forgotten that Japan caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries during the war…. The war has left an incurable scar on many people, including former prisoners of war. I reaffirm today our feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology expressed in Prime Minister Murayama’s statement of 1995.” Earlier, Tanaka and US Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed sympathy for those who suffered in World War II, but said that issues of compensation had been settled by the Peace Treaty and other international agreements. More than 400 mostly Chinese and Korean-Americans demonstrated outside, calling on Japan to extend reparations to victims of the Nanjing massacre, former prisoners of war, and former sexual slaves, among others. Also on Saturday, a protest conference was held at the Miyako Hotel to discuss Japanese war atrocities. Japanese consul general in San Francisco, Nobuaki Tanaka, appeared at the conference and said that while he feels remorse for the victims, the reparations issue has been settled. Consul Tanaka stated, “Japan’s government, on behalf of the people, apologizes. They (the critics) don’t want to acknowledge that.” San Francisco Superior Court Judge Lillian Sing, co-chair of the Rape of Nanking Redress Coalition, said that Japan should offer a national apology approved by the parliament and signed by the prime minister. She said an apology should also be accompanied by compensation for war victims and education efforts to memorialize the atrocities. San Francisco Supervisor Leland Yee said that he has recently introduced city legislation asking for an apology from Japan and just compensation for war victims.
II. Republic of Korea
1. ROK-DPRK Talks
The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, “TWO KOREAS OPTIMISTIC AT PROGRESS FROM UPCOMING MINISTERIAL TALKS,” Seoul, 09/10/01) reported that officials in both the ROK and the DPRK are voicing optimism that the first inter-Korean government-level talks in more than six months will yield fruits. ROK President Kim Dae-jung said Saturday that the two Koreas will agree on details of the plan to reconnect their cross-border railway during the ministerial talks scheduled for September 15-18 in Seoul. “It will be in the near future that we’ll be able to go to Pyongyang by train,” Kim said during a visit to the Kyonggi Provincial Government in Suwon.
2. DPRK Arms Control
Chosun Ilbo (Yoo Yong-won, “NK ARMS IMPORTS AND EXPORTS INCREASING,” Seoul, 09/10/01) reported that a recent study showed that the DPRK has imported US$344.3 million worth of various weapons from the PRC, Japan, Russia and Poland since 1991. The weapons they purchased were mainly MIG-29 fighters, IL-76 transport planes, tank parts and navigation devices. The amount of imported weapons has been on the rise 1996 and finally crossed the US$100million barrier in 2000, compared with 1995, when the amount of imports dived to US$6.7million. According to the research submitted by the ROK Ministry of National Defense as part of an Assembly inspection to the Millennium Democratic Party’s Park Sang-gyu, the DPRK imported US$22 million and US$54 million in 1991 and 1992, respectively. Later, however, spending decreased to 1995’s US$6.7 million before sequentially increasing purchases with US$11 million in 1996, US$23 million in 1997, US$50 million in 1998 and US$70 million in 1999. Over the same period, the DPRK has exported US$914million worth of weapons including missiles and missile parts, missile launching pads, machine guns, field guns and ammunition. The study also showed that export volume has been rising since the late 1990’s: US$60 million in 197, US$63 million in 1999 and US$60 million in 2000.
3. US-ROK Military Sales
The Korea Times (Kim Kwang-tae, “KOREA CAN’T INTEGRATE US WEAPONS,” 9/10/01) reported that the US said that it would not help integrate US weapons and cryptographic systems should the ROK buy non-US aircraft for its next-generation fighter program, code-named F-X. In a report by the ROK Defense Ministry to Representative Kang Chang-sung of the ROK’s opposition Grand National Party (GNP) for parliamentary inspection, the ministry said that it received a letter dated May 25 from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to that effect. Edward W. Ross, director for the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa at the DSCA, responded to an ROK Air Force inquiry via the ROK Embassy in Washington, “At this time, we can’t respond positively to your request for Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) for the integration of various US weapon systems on the Eurofighter- Typhoon, Rafale, or Su-35 fighter aircraft.” Ross said in the letter that before he could approve any LOA for munitions, integration, or support packages for the Rafale or Eurofighter Typhoon, it would be necessary to address the full range of technology transfer and release issues on a weapon-by-weapon, platform-to-platform basis. Paul Wolfowitz, US deputy secretary of defense, also answered negatively to an inquiry by US Representative J. D. Hayworth of Arizona on the potential integration of the US-made AIM-120 advanced medium air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) with the French Rafale for potential sale to the ROK. [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense’s Early Bird news service for September 10, 2001.]
III. Japan
1. Japan-ROK Relations
The Asashi Shinbun (“KIM DAE JUNG HAD MEETING WITH ASASHI-SHINBUN PRESIDENT”, Seoul, 04/09/01, 4) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung, in a meeting with the Asahi Shinbun president, Shinichi Hakoshima, expressed his willingness to restore the Japan-ROK relationship. Kim also stated that the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to Yasukuni shrine and history textbook issues should be solved by Japanese action, implying the importance of Japanese efforts to improve the circumstances before a Japan-ROK summit.
The Asashi Shinbun (“RE-EXAMINE JAPANESE DIPLOMACY”, Tokyo, 05/09/2001, 4) reported that a request to restore the Japan-ROK relationship has come from politicians and scholars in the ROK and the US, who are anxious that the worsening dispute over the Yasukuni shrine and history textbook issues would have a negative influence on the cooperation system among the US, Japan, and ROK on how to cope with the DPRK. US Ambassador to Japan Christenson argued that the 1994 Agreed Framework would not work effectively in a situation of fragile cooperation among the US, Japan and the ROK.
2. Japan-PRC Relations
The Asashi Shinbun (“IMPROVEMENT OF JAPANESE-CHINESE RELATIONSHIP”, Beijing, 05/09/2001, 4) reported that the PRC vice-president, in a meeting with ex-Japanese prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa, urged Japan to take any action to restore the Sino-Japanese relationship damaged by the visit of the Japanese prime minister to Yasukuni shrine and the history textbook issue.
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Gee Gee Wong: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
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Berkeley, California, United States
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Moscow, Russian Federation
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Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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