NAPSNet Daily Report 26 June, 2008
Contents in this Issue:
- I. NAPSNet
- 1. DPRK Nuclear Declaration
- 2. DPRK Nuclear Program
- 3. US on DPRK Terror List Status
- 4. Inter-Korean Relations
- 5. Six Party Talks
- 6. US-DPRK Relations
- 7. Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation
- 8. US-ROK Relations
- 9. US-ROK Security Alliance
- 10. Cross Strait Relations
- 11. PRC and the SCO
- 12. PRC Web Censorship
- 13. PRC Earthquake
- 14. PRC Public Health
- II. PRC Report
- III. ROK Report
I. NAPSNet
1. DPRK Nuclear Declaration
Korea Herald (“N. KOREA TO SUBMIT NUCLEAR DECLARATION VIA EMBASSY”, 2008/06/25) reported that the DPRK is expected to hand over a list detailing its nuclear program to the PRC this week via its embassy in Beijing, officials here were quoted as saying. Some have speculated that top North Korean envoy Kim Kye-gwan will travel to the PRC, which hosts the six-way talks on the nuclear issue, bringing the document with him. “North Korea is likely to submit it through its embassy in China. It is the easiest way,” a ROK Foreign Ministry official said.
Associated Press (“CHINA: NKOREA WILL HAND OVER NUCLEAR DECLARATION”, Beijing, 2008/06/26) reported that PRC Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei said that the DPRK on Thursday “will submit its nuclear declaration to the chair of the six-party talks.” He also says the United States will fulfill its promise to lift sanctions and remove the DPRK’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Wu did not take questions and it was not immediately clear if North Korea had already submitted the declaration. In Kyoto, US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice she expected developments on the declaration within hours.
2. DPRK Nuclear Program
Yonhap (Lee Chi-dong, “SUNG KIM TO VISIT N. KOREA TO SEE DEMOLITION OF COOLING TOWER”, Seoul, 2008/06/25) reported that the US State Department’s top Korea expert will visit the DPRK this week to view the planned demolition of a cooling tower at its main nuclear site in Yongbyon, U.S. embassy officials here said. Sung Kim, director of the department’s Korea desk, arrived in Seoul for his trip to the DPRK, they added. The DPRK is expected to blow up the cooling tower in a show of its will to denuclearize on Friday. It has already invited the US cable television channel CNN and four other foreign media to cover the event.
3. US on DPRK Terror List Status
Agence France-Presse (“US MAY LIFT TERROR LABEL FROM NKOREA: WHITE HOUSE “, Washington, 2008/06/25) reported that the US said that it could move to take the DPRK off its list of state sponsors of terrorism “quite soon” after the DPRK makes a full accounting of its nuclear programs. “We’ll have to wait and see. It could be quite soon if that were to happen,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. “The North Koreans, as far as I know, have not said definitively when — if or when — they will be issuing this declaration but as I said the other day, they had sort of floated the date of June 26th out there. I have no reason to believe that they will or will not meet it,” said Perino.
4. Inter-Korean Relations
Yonhap (Yoo Cheong-mo, “LEE RENEWS PLEDGE OF ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE FOR N. KOREA “, Seoul, 2008/06/25) reported that President Lee Myung-bak reiterated that his government is willing to help the DPRK stand on its own feet economically, as long as the DPRK chooses to abandon its nuclear weapons program. In an address to a reception for Korean and foreign veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War, Lee also stressed that he will do his utmost to bring home as many ROK service members and civilians still held captive in the DPRK and allow separated families across the border to exchange visits.
5. Six Party Talks
Xinhua (“RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT: SIX-PARTY TALKS ON NUCLEAR ISSUE TO RESUME SOON “, Moscow, 2008/06/25) reported that a Russian diplomat said that top negotiators of the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula will possibly resume in Beijing soon, Itar-Tass news agency reported. “It is quite probable that a meeting of heads of delegations at the six-party talks will be held soon. If we get an official invitation from the PRC partners, who chair the six-party talks, we are willing to attend the meeting,” said the anonymous diplomat.
6. US-DPRK Relations
Xinhua (“DPRK URGES U.S. TO DROP HOSTILE POLICY “, Pyongyang, 2008/06/25) reported that major official newspapers in Pyongyang delivered editorials to mark the 58th anniversary of outbreak of the Korean War, urging the US to drop its hostile policy toward the DPRK. The war has been over for more than half a century, but the possibility of its reopening still exists, said an editorial carried by the official daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun. Minju Joson, another official newspaper issued in Pyongyang, said in an editorial that the DPRK should keep vigilant against the “peace” and “dialogue” advocated by the US.
7. Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation
Joongang Ilbo (Cho Jae-eun, “POSCO LOOKS TO IRON ORE STOCKS IN THE NORTH”, 2008/06/25) reported that the ROK’s top steelmaker Posco is hoping to purchase iron ore from the DPRK as well as increase its purchase of anthracite coal from the country. Last year, Posco bought 200,000 metric tons of coal. If the deals go through, this amount is expected to double to 400,000 metric tones this year. The steelmaker also said that Kim is discussing the possibility of the company purchasing iron ore from the DPRK. Posco’s iron ore will come from Mount Mu in the DPRK. The mountain is said to contain around 3 billion metric tons of iron ore, of which about 1.3 billion metric tons can be dug up.
8. US-ROK Relations
Korea Times (Bae Ji-sook, “57% OF TEENAGERS DON’T KNOW WHEN KOREAN WAR BROKE OUT”, 2008/06/23) reported that the Ministry of Public Administration and Security said that a survey of 1,016 middle and high school students showed nearly 57 percent didn’t know the war started on June 25, 1950. About 14 percent picked Japan as the nation responsible for the war; 13.4 percent, the US, and 11 percent Russia. About 2 percent even said it was the ROK invading the DPRK. While the US is regarded as the main ally of the country, 28 percent said it was the key “threat” for national security, 4 percentage points higher than the DPRK. Only 56 percent said they felt threatened by the DPRK’s nuclear weapons development, adding that the chance of another Korean War taking place was very low.
9. US-ROK Security Alliance
Korea Times (Jung Sung-ki, “SEOUL TO BUY WEAPONS FOR F-15K FIGHTERS”, 2008/06/25) reported that the ROK government has recently requested $200 million worth of missiles and other weapon systems from the US to equip its new F-15K multi-role fighters, the US Department of Defense announced Tuesday. Meanwhile, a US government report said the ROK was the eighth biggest buyer of US defense products in the fiscal year that ended in September 2007 under the government-to-government foreign military sales (FMS) program.
10. Cross Strait Relations
The Associated Press (“AIR CHINA SAYS HISTORIC FIRST REGULAR FLIGHTS BETWEEN BEIJING AND TAIWAN TO BEGIN JULY 4”, Beijing, 2008/06/25) reported that the first regularly scheduled flights in six decades linking the PRC with Taiwan will begin July 4, state-owned Air China said. The weekend flights will link Beijing with Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, and southern port of Kaohsiung, Air China said. “This new bridge between Taipei, Kaohsiung and Beijing will help enhance China’s cultural and commercial ties,” an Air China spokesman, Zhang Chunzhi, said in a statement.
11. PRC and the SCO
Xinhua (“CHINA’S TOP LEGISLATURE TO RATIFY SCO TREATY “, Beijing, 2008/06/25) reported that the PRC will ratify a multilateral treaty for the members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to maintain peaceful and friendly border regions. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC),the country’s top legislature, started to review a motion by the State Council, the PRC’s Cabinet, to approve the treaty. It was hearing an explanation given by Foreign Affairs Vice Minister Wu Dawei commissioned by the government. Wu said the SCO had played an important role in maintaining regional stability and enhancing political, economic and cultural ties with each other.
12. PRC Web Censorship
The Financial Times (Robin Kwong , “GROUP WARNS CHINA ON WEBSITE SHUTDOWN”, Hong Kong, 2008/06/25) reported that the PRC government’s recent crackdown on civil rights groups may backfire and incite protests during the Beijing Olympics, warned Lu Jun, who ran a popular website for hepatitis B carriers shut down last month. Beijing blocked access within the PRC to “In the Hepatitis B Camp,” a popular website and online forum for carriers of the virus and which was the world’s biggest such forum with over 300,000 members. The PRC’s 120m carriers of the virus are widely discriminated against by companies, universities and some government departments, even though the virus cannot be spread through casual contact.
13. PRC Earthquake
Washington Post (Edward Cody, “IN CHINA’S QUAKE ZONE, AFTERSHOCKS OF THE SPIRIT”, Mianzhu, 2008/06/25) reported that across the PRC, children have been taught for generations that enduring hardship — or “eating bitter,” as the PRC like to say — is just as important as overcoming it. The rugged farmers of Sichuan have developed a reputation for being even abler than the rest of their countrymen in this respect. And since the quake struck, they have earned their reputation anew. Now, the party has been forced to rely on the tradition in a new way, counting on the patience of 12 million refugees across the earthquake zone who have little promise of returning home for months or even years.
14. PRC Public Health
The Associated Press (Christopher Bodeen, “CHINA ANNOUNCES OLYMPICS DRUGS CRACKDOWN”, Beijing, 2008/06/25) reported that the PRC plans to crack down on illegal drugs in Beijing and other cities that will host Olympic events, a top police official said. Authorities will target drug use at nightclubs and other entertainment venues, as well as smugglers supplying major cities, said Yang Fengrui, director of the Bureau of Narcotics Control under the Public Security Ministry. Yang told a news conference that the crackdown would be accompanied by a publicity campaign aimed at raising “public awareness of the hazards of drug use.”
II. PRC Report
15. PRC Environment
Xinhua Net, www.xinhuanet.com (Hu Tao, “ADB LOANS TO SUPPORT THE PROTECTION OF CHINA’S LARGEST FRESHWATER WETLAND”, Harbin, 2008/06/25) reported that the Sanjiang Plain Wetland Protection Project jointly funded by Asian Development Bank, Global Environment Fund and Heilongjiang Province, has came into full implementation stage. This project will comprehensively promote biodiversity, natural resource restoration and protection of the PRC’s largest freshwater wetland, with a total investment of 55.55 million US dollars. The project content includes: watershed management, strengthen the management of nature reserves, carry out “alternative livelihoods” in the form of poverty alleviation to promote rational use of resources. <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:??; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:”@SimSun”; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-pagination:none; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –&
16. Sino-Australian Trade
China Security News (Gao Jianfeng, “SINO-AUSTRALIAN IRON ORE NEGOTIATION ENDS”, Beijing, 2008/06/25) reported that the PRC and Australia finally reached consensus on iron ore price on Wednesday. The largest gain is 96.5%. Analysts believe that the outcome of the negotiations has broken the practice of previous negotiations. The future iron ore market may enter into an era of turbulence. In addition, the industry-wide steel price per metric ton will increase 123 yuan over last year. Although there was no breakdown of the final negotiation, the Australian company is obviously the victor. <!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:SimSun; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-alt:??; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} @font-face {font-family:”@SimSun”; panose-1:2 1 6 0 3 1 1 1 1 1; mso-font-charset:134; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 135135232 16 0 262145 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; text-justify:inter-ideograph; mso-pagination:none; font-size:10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:SimSun; mso-font-kerning:1.0pt; mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –&gt
17. PRC Civil Society and the 512 Earthquake
China News Agency (Zhang Shuo, “CHINESE-AMERICAN CULTURE AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTES TO THE SICHAUN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF”, Beijing, 2008/06/25) reported that on behalf of the Chinese-American Culture and Education Foundation, Chinese-American Miss Huang Zhuoya went to the earthquake-stricken area in Sichuan on June 24 to examine local school reconstruction and carry out further donation activities. The Foundation was established in 2004 and is an officially registered charitable foundation in the United States. Its headquarters is in San Diego. It is committed to construct school in remote villages in the PRC using donated funds. So far 13 schools have been built or are under construction, among which four are in Sichuan
III. ROK Report
18. DPRK Internal Situation
Goodfriends (“NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM JAPAN TRYING TO RETURN INCREASES”, 2008/06/25) wrote that as food crisis in the DPRK is becoming serious, DPRK citizens from Japan are trying to return home. These people are former Japanese residents of Korean origin who voluntarily went to the DPRK. As cases of people from Japan and their families trying to escape increases, the DPRK government reinforced supervision. The DPRK government made it especially more difficult to get traveling permission.
19. Inter-Korean Relations
Ohmynews (“ROK BECAME ISOLATED”, ) wrote that the DPRK is going to submit the nuclear report to the PRC, the six-party talks chair state, and plans to dismantle the Yongbyon nuclear reactor’s cooling towers. The Lee administration is having diplomatic stalemate with the DPRK and thus was totally isolated from these processes. Moreover, the Lee administration does not show any plan nor will to change the situation. One inter-Korea relations professional said that the Lee administration made a serious mistake from the beginning by not considering the DPRK and the PRC in its diplomacy/security blueprint.
Peacemaking (Yoon Young Jeon, “DISMANTLEMENT OF COOLING TOWERS, ONE STEP TOWARD THE PEACE OF KOREAN PENINSULA, TIME FOR THE LEE ADMINISTRATION TO CHANGE”, 2008/06/23) carried an article by a unification education committee member who wrote that the dismantlement of cooling towers is a prologue for the denuclearization. The DPRK and the U.S. are rapidly completing negotiations regarding the DPRK nuclear issue, and the Lee administration is remaining idle, which is fairly disappointing. The Lee administration should abandon unrealistic policies such as its denuclearization 300 policy or establishing a Pyongyang contact office. The ROK should focus on the six-party talks, and should take the mainstream position as a state directly concerned with the matter under agreement with the U.S. Thus, considerable changes are needed in policy toward the DPRK.
20. DPRK Nuclear Program
Kukminilbo (“DPRK NUCLEAR REPORT DOES NOT INCLUDE NUCLEAR WEAPONS”, 2008/06/26) wrote that Christopher R. Hill, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, clarified that the DPRK nuclear report does not include nuclear weapon. Nuclear weapons were not included originally so it might not matter that much. What I worry about is the possibility of the DPRK possession of nuclear weapon being a settled matter. The ROK government should reassure to the U.S. that the DPRK nuclear weapons are a crucial threat to the ROK regardless of their quantity.