NAPSNet Daily Report 15 February, 2002

Recommended Citation

"NAPSNet Daily Report 15 February, 2002", NAPSNet Daily Report, February 15, 2002, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-daily-report/napsnet-daily-report-15-february-2002/

 
CONTENTS

I. United States

1. Bush Asia Tour
2. DPRK-US Relations
3. DPRK Missile Sales
4. PRC-US Plane Incident
5. Japan’s View of “Axis of Evil”
II. Republic of Korea 1. ROK-DPRK Relations
2. DPRK Military Movement
3. ROK Military Plan
4. ROK-US Summit Issues
5. ROK Support to DPRK
III. Japan 1. Japan-DPRK Relations
2. Japan-PRC Relations

I. United States

1. Bush Asia Tour

The Associated Press (Sandra Sobieraj, “BUSH TO LOOK UPON ‘AXIS’ NATION,” Washington, 02/15/02), Reuters (Jonathan Wright, “KOREA TRIP UNLIKELY TO SWAY BUSH ON ‘AXIS,'” Washington, 02/15/02), Reuters (Paul Eckert, “SOUTH KOREA GEARS UP FOR CHALLENGE OF BUSH VISIT,” Seoul, 02/15/02), and Agence France-Presse (“SOUTH KOREA WANTS WORDS OF ‘PEACE’ FROM BUSH,” 02/15/02) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-Jung said Friday that he hoped to hear words of “peace” from Bush when he arrives at the Dorasan railway station in the heavily fortified buffer zone. US President George W. Bush will travel to Korea’s demilitarized zone next week. White House officials say the president intends to use the six- day tour, which was planned for last fall but postponed after September 11, as a “celebration of alliances” in the far East and a maintenance of Asian support for his war on terrorism. Advisers involved in the planning for Bush’s meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, ROK President Kim Dae-jung and PRC President Jiang Zemin said those governments have indicated that the “axis of evil” talk does not substantively alter their own one-on-one relations with the US.

2. DPRK-US Relations

The Associated Press (Choe Sang-hun, “NORTH KOREA WARNS OF WAR,” Seoul, 02/15/02) reported that DPRK military officers and party cadets rallied Friday to celebrate DPRK supreme leader Kim Jong Il’s birthday, calling for heightened vigilance following President Bush’s condemnation of the DPRK. Kim turns 60 on Saturday. On the eve of the national holiday, the DPRK called a massive “national meeting” in Pyongyang, where Kim Yong Nam, the country’s Number 2 man, made a report on the state of national affairs. “Because of the United States’ arrogant and insolent behavior, the danger of war is growing every day on the Korean Peninsula,” Kim said during the meeting. “If the US imperialists and their followers dare provoke a war in this land, it will lead to their final destruction.”

3. DPRK Missile Sales

The Associated Press (Sandra Sobieraj, “RICE TO PRESS N. KOREA MISSILE SALES,” Washington, 02/14/02) reported that during US President’s George W. Bush’s six-day tour through Asia, he will continue his hard line concerning his views of DPRK missile-trafficking. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice stated, “The North Koreans have been known to go around with glossy brochures about their ballistic missiles. They’re stocking a lot of the world right now… We believe the North is exporting to just about anybody who will buy.” Rice also made clear that Bush will not back away from his “axis of evil” stance. “We believe that you can have a policy that speaks the truth, speaks clearly about the North Korean regime, and yet leaves open the possibility of dialogue,” she said. Rice rebuffed the DPRK’s reported interest in peace talks under the condition that the US delegate someone with very high stature, such as a former president. “We have one president at a time. We have a secretary of state. … I don’t think we need any help from the outside,” she said.

4. PRC-US Plane Incident

The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, “CHINESE OFFICIAL EYED IN BUGGING OF PLANE,” 02/15/02) and Reuters (“JIANG SUSPECTS LI IN PLANE BUGGING -U.S. NEWSPAPER,” 02/15/02) reported that according to a classified State Department intelligence report, PRC President Jiang Zemin believes fellow PRC Politburo member Li Peng is behind the planting of electronic listening devices aboard Jiang’s new U.S. jetliner. US intelligence officials state that President Jiang is said to be convinced that Li ordered the aircraft bugging to listen in on his discussions of financial corruption related to Li’s wife and children. Initial suspicion for the bugging, which was reported in several newspapers last month, centered on US intelligence agencies because the Boeing 767 spent close to a year in Texas for refurbishment before it went to PRC last August

5. Japan’s View of “Axis of Evil”

Agence France-Presse (“JAPAN DIFFERS WITH BUSH’S ‘AXIS OF EVIL’ TAKE ON NORTH KOREA,” 02/15/02) reported that Japan’s defence minister Gen Nakatani said that the DPRK should not have been lumped in with Iran and Iraq by US President George W. Bush as part of an “axis of evil.” “I think North Korea is not on an equal footing with Iran and Iraq because it has no links with al-Qaeda or the Taliban,” the director general of the defence agency stated. Regarding rumours that Iraq may be the next target of the US war on terrorism, Nakatani said: “The US government has not said anything about that, nor have they said anything to the Japanese government. “I would like to keep an eye on their stance from here on.”

II. Republic of Korea

1. ROK-DPRK Relations

Joongnag Ilbo (Lee Young-jong, “AT SUMMIT, SEOUL TO PUSH AN ENVOY TO NORTH,” Seoul, 02/15/02) reported that ROK government officials said Thursday that the ROK will propose resumption of inter-Korean dialogue this month after US President George W. Bush’s visit. “We cannot wait around forever in this context, where it is difficult for North Korea to respond and come to the table for talks [with the US or South Korea],” said an official at the ROK Unification Ministry. He said that the ministry would propose to the DPRK to reopen the dialogue that broke down last November at Mount Kumgang. The ROK government is also considering sending a special envoy, jointly with the US, if President Kim Dae-jung and President Bush can come to an agreement, said Yim Sung- joon, senior Blue House secretary for foreign policy and national security. The two will meet at the summit on Wednesday.

2. DPRK Military Movement

Joongang Ilbo (Oh Day-young, “NORTH SAID TO PREPARE OFFENSIVE MOVES,” Tokyo, 02/14/02) reported that Peter Brookes, US deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, stated that the DPRK is increasing and modernizing its conventional weapons and forces near the Demilitarized Zone. Brookes referred to the DPRK’s conventional weapons as the “fuse of a time bomb.” While the weapons of mass destruction are important, he said, armies do not start hostilities with them. He added that reducing the DPRK’s conventional weapons should be the immediate task to forestall use of mass-destruction weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Brookes also stated that the movements of the DPRK army in the past year shows that “they are readying for an offensive.” He also added, “The North Korean army has been moving closer to the Demilitarized Zone in the past few years.” He ruled out upgrading weaponry of the U. forces stationed in ROK for the time being, but stressed that the US would be flexible in strengthening its military response capability toward the DPRK.

3. ROK Military Plan

Joongang Ilbo (“DEFENSE UPGRADES TO COST $75 BILLION,” Seoul, 02/15/02) reported that the Ministry of National Defense announced Thursday that more than 98 trillion won (US$75 billion) will be allocated to enhance national defense between 2003 and 2007. It said that 36 trillion won would be spent to develop and purchase weaponry, and 62 trillion won would be invested in military administration. According to the ministry, an Aegis destroyer battle system, at a cost of 1.2 trillion won (US$923 million), will be selected before May. The ministry plans to postpone the installation of an airborne warning and control system until 2005 due to budget limitations. The system will be completed in 2011. The ministry will also develop a domestic military helicopter by investing 750 billion won through 2012.

4. ROK-US Summit Issues

The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, “KIM, BUSH TO JOINTLY URGE N.K. TO ADDRESS WEAPONS ISSUE,” Seoul, 02/15/02) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung and US President George W. Bush will jointly call on DPRK to address concerns about its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) during their upcoming summit in Seoul. “This summit will confirm the two leaders’ joint efforts to cope with the North’s threat of WMD proliferation,” said a senior ROK government official. The official said that President Bush will also reaffirm his support for ROK’s policy of reconciliation and cooperation with DPRK. “Bush will use the summit with Kim as a chance to repeat his desire to resume dialogue with North Korea,” the official said. Bush is scheduled to arrive in ROK next Tuesday for a three-day visit for talks with President Kim, during which DPRK issues are expected to predominate. The two leaders will also confirm their countries’ “global partnership” in dealing with terrorism and other pending international issues, according to the official. Presidential spokesperson Park Sun-sook said in a regular press briefing that President Kim’s position is that the DPRK WMD issue should be resolved.

5. ROK Support to DPRK

The Koreaherald (Kim Ji-ho, “SEOUL PUSHING FOR TALKS WITH NORTH KOREA NEXT MONTH,” Seoul, 02/15/02) reported that the ROK is pushing to resume dialogue with the DPRK in March beginning with discussions on economic cooperation, including the provision of fertilizer aid, ROK officials said Thursday. President Kim Dae-jung also plans to ask US President George W. Bush to cooperate in fostering an atmosphere conducive to the inter-Korean rapprochement process, suspended since last November, when the two leaders meet in Seoul next week. As the DPRK is in dire need of chemical fertilizer every spring, he added, the two Koreas are expected to initially discuss ROK’s fertilizer provision. Last year, ROK sent 200,000 tons of fertilizer to the DPRK, which has suffered from poor crop yields for years.

III. Japan

1. Japan-DPRK Relations

The Mainichi Shinbun (“NORTH KOREA RELEASES JAPANESE MAN HELD FOR SPYING,” 02/12/02) and the Asahi Shinbun (“ANALYSIS: N.KOREA OFFERS AN OLIVE BRANCH,” 02/14/02) reported that a Japanese man who has been held in the DPRK since 1999 for alleged spying was released on Tuesday. Takashi Sugishima, a former Nihon Keizai Shinbun reporter, returned to Japan. A Japan foreign ministry spokesperson said Pyongyang informed it earlier in the month that 62 year old Sugishima would be released soon. “We don’t even know why they decided to release him,” the spokesperson said. The release of a Japanese journalist is a push to put ties on a better footing. “It will be terrific if this leads to a resumption of (stalled) Japan-North Korea talks,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters on Wednesday. Foreign Ministry officials said they believe that the DPRK is seeking a breakthrough in its international isolation.

2. Japan-PRC Relations

The Asahi Shinbun (“PANEL TO TAKE ON ASIAN COPUCATS,” 02/13/02) reported that the PRC will feel heat from Japan over industrial piracy. The private and public sector will join forces to stem a growing tide of counterfeit copies of Japanese products, varying from motorcycles and consumer electronics to medicine. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, companies will set up a group by April to combat piracy, sources said. Pressure will be especially intense on PRC government, with the ministry planning to bring up the issue in talks at all levels, a high-ranking ministry official said. The PRC has recently begun adding muscle to an anti-copying campaign, but that will take time to show results because manufacturers are spread out across vast areas. Tokyo will support relevant training for customs officials, police and staff at intellectual property offices in copy-producing countries, sources said.

The NAPSNet Daily Report aims to serve as a forum for dialogue and exchange among peace and security specialists. Conventions for readers and a list of acronyms and abbreviations are available to all recipients. For descriptions of the world wide web sites used to gather information for this report, or for more information on web sites with related information, see the collection of other NAPSNet resources.
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Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with:

BK21 The Education and Research Corps for East Asian Studies
Department of Political Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Center for American Studies,
Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

International Peace Research Institute (PRIME),
Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan

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 Young-soo: yskim328@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hibiki Yamaguchi: hibikiy84@hotmail.com
Tokyo, Japan

Saiko Iwata: saiko@akira.ne.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< /a>
Clayton, Australia

 


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