NAPSNet Daily Report 21 September, 2010

Recommended Citation

"NAPSNet Daily Report 21 September, 2010", NAPSNet Daily Report, September 21, 2010, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-daily-report/napsnet-daily-report-21-september-2010/

NAPSNet Daily Report 21 September, 2010

Previous day’s Issue

Contents in this Issue:

1. IAEA on DPRK Nuclear Program

Global Security Newswire (“NORTH KOREAN NUKE PROGRAM A “SERIOUS CONCERN” FOR IAEA HEAD”, 2010/09/21) reported that the DPRK’s nuclear program is “a matter of serious concern,” the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said today. U.N. nuclear watchdog Director General Yukiya Amano called on “all parties concerned to make concerted efforts for a resumption of the six-party talks at an appropriate time,” the Associated Press reported. “The agency has had no inspectors in the country since April last year, and I therefore have nothing to report on any activities of the IAEA in relation to the D.P.R.K,” Amano said at the beginning of this week’s IAEA General Conference. “The D.P.R.K. has not permitted the agency to implement safeguards in the country since December 2002 and it has not implemented the relevant measures called for in Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874”.

http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100920_6202.php

(return to top)

2. DPRK Military

Voice of America (“SECRET MANUAL GIVES GLIMPSE OF NORTH KOREAN MILITARY TACTICS”, 2010/09/21) reported that a military manual, said to have been smuggled out of the DPRK, reveals Pyongyang’s concern about electronic warfare technology used by the United States and ROK. The document also indicates the DPRK’s military uses radar-absorbing paint and other stealth tactics to conceal its weapons. Analysts studying the purported DPRK manual say Pyongyang has taken a variety of measures to redress the overwhelming military disadvantage it would face if war breaks out on the Korean peninsula. Though there is no way to be absolutely certain about the authenticity of the manual, ROK and U.S. officials who have seen it consider the document to be genuine.  The five-year-old handbook gives instructions on how to make radar-absorbing paint to help conceal jets, warships and tanks. It also explains how to fabricate decoys, pave bogus runways and deceive the enemy by having stationary units mimic the characteristics of those on the move. Pinkston, a former U.S. Air Force analyst on the DPRK, says the classified manual was likely distributed to commanders and other high-level military specialists concerned with electronic warfare. 

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Secret-Manual-Gives-Glimpse-of-North-Korean-Military-Tactics-103253534.html

(return to top)

3. Japan Self-Defense Force

Telegraph (“JAPAN THREATENS BUILD UP OF MILITARY FORCES AMID RISING TENSIONS WITH CHINA “, 2010/09/21) reported that Japan is threatening an almost 10 per cent increase in its ground defense forces in response to a growing diplomatic dispute with the PRC.  The defense ministry is reported to be exploring plans to expand the size of the Japan’s ground personnel by 13,000 troops as early as next year. The expansion would be the first in almost 40 years and comes amid growing regional tensions, particularly in areas where the PRC’s navy is increasingly active. The proposal – which is expected to be in Japan’s new national defence programme that is compiled by the end of the year – also reportedly aims to help deal with terrorism threats and natural disasters.  The proposal to increase Japan’s ground force staff is likely to focus on southerly regions which are home to a string of disputed islands – including those at the heart of the current row – as well as underwater energy resources.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8015789/Japan-threatens-build-up-of-military-forces-amid-rising-tensions-with-China.html

(return to top)

4. PRC on Nuclear Energy

Xinhua News Agency (“CHINA URGES IAEA TO ENHANCE ROLE IN PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY”, 2010/09/21) reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needs to enhance its role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy, non-proliferation and fostering nuclear security, a senior PRC official said. Global revitalization of nuclear energy has brought more opportunities for the IAEA to play an even larger role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and technology, said Chen Qiufa, head of the PRC delegation to the IAEA’s 54th General Conference opened in Vienna. Chen, also director general of the China Atomic Energy Authority, told the conference that the IAEA should continue to strengthen technical cooperation for sustainable development of nuclear energy, and give heed to opinions of developing countries. On the issue of nuclear safety, Chen said the IAEA should continue to push forward the development of global nuclear safety and security legislation and standard system, to strengthen transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience, popularize and promote nuclear culture so as to increase public confidence in nuclear energy development. Chen pointed out that the IAEA should play an active role in addressing sensitive and hot-spot nuclear issues. He said the PRC always holds that the nuclear conundrum on the Korean Peninsula and in Iran should be resolved through dialogues and negotiations. The PRC also supported the IAEA and its director general to continue to play their due role to push forward the diplomatic settlement of these issues. 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-09/20/c_13522042.htm

(return to top)

5. Sino-Pakistan Nuclear Cooperation

Agence France Presse (“CHINA, PAKISTAN IN TALKS ON NEW NUCLEAR PLANT”, 2010/09/21) reported that Pakistan on Tuesday implicitly confirmed it is holding talks with the PRC to build a new nuclear power plant in the energy-starved South Asian nation.”We have an ongoing civil nuclear cooperation agreement with China which is according to our respective international obligations for peaceful purposes under the IAEA safeguards,” foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit told AFP. The Wall Street Journal reported that the PRC’s main nuclear power company is in talks with Pakistan to build a one-gigawatt nuclear power plant. The PRC has already built a 300-megawatt nuclear power reactor at Chashma in Punjab province and another of the same capacity will be operational later this year or early next year, an official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The PRC has also been contracted to build two more reactors at Chashma, the official said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gc7jHKD_Fh3snqOW3UFaIVO52RoA