NAPSNet Daily Report 8 November, 2010
Contents in this Issue:
1. US on DPRK Nuclear Program
Agence France-Presse (“NO SIGNS OF N.KOREA NUCLEAR PROCESSING: US ENVOY”, Tokyo, 2010/11/06) reported that there are no signs the DPRK has resumed nuclear activity at the site where it previously produced weapons-grade plutonium, a former US envoy was quoted as saying after a trip to the country. Charles Pritchard, former top negotiator with the DPRK, was quoted as saying on Saturday that the Yongbyon complex — where the isolated state processed plutonium for past nuclear tests — did not appear to be in operation. “So at this point, I don’t believe there is any additional reprocessing or anything going on” at the reactor, the former top US negotiator with Pyongyang said.
2. Inter-Korean Relations
People’s Daily Online (“S. KOREA’S RICE AID TO REACH FLOOD-HIT DPRK TOMORROW”, 2010/11/08) reported that some of the ROK’s first government-financed rice aid in almost three years will be delivered to the flood-hit DPRK starting Tuesday, the unification ministry said Monday. Some of the 5,000 tons of rice currently in the PRC city of Dandong will be sent to the northwestern DPRK city of Sinuiju, a city reeling from heavy rains in August, and the delivery will be completed by the end of next week, according to the ministry.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7191958.html
3. US-Japan Relations
The Associated Press (“OBAMA SKIPS PEACE PRIZE WINNERS’ MEETING IN JAPAN”, 2010/11/08) reported that President Barack Obama has declined an invitation to a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize winners on nuclear weapons that is taking place later this week in Hiroshima, when he will be in the country to attend a summit of Asian leaders. Five Nobel peace laureates had written a letter calling on Obama to visit Hiroshima in southwestern Japan to re-energize his call for a world without nuclear arms, asking him to make the opening address on Friday. Hiroshima’s governor received a letter dated Oct. 26, from Kurt Campbell, the U.S. State Department’s top Asia policy official, saying Obama won’t be attending, city and prefectural officials said Monday. “It is with regret that President Obama will not be able to attend,” Campbell said in the letter. “Your overwhelming resolution to lead the world toward a nuclear weapons free world advances President Obama’s vision to make the world a safer place.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40065792/ns/world_news-asiapacific/
4. Sino-Japanese Relations
Agence France-Presse (“ANTI-CHINA RALLY HELD IN JAPAN AFTER VIDEO LEAK OF COLLISION”, 2010/11/08) reported that about 4,000 anti-PRC protesters rallied in Tokyo on Saturday, with their anger fuelled by a video capturing a collision between PRC and Japanese vessels which sparked a diplomatic spat. Brandishing imperialist “Rising Sun” flags, the demonstrators gathered at an open air concert hall in the centre of the capital, a chorus of Japan’s national anthem serving as an opening ceremony. “We have to tell China … what we have to say. Otherwise, we cannot maintain our relations of equals,” Toshio Tamogami, former chief of staff of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force, told the rally. “It’s time to end the practice of attempting to avoid troubles and put them off,” said Tamogami, now head of a conservative lobbying group.
5. Sino-Pakistani Nuclear Cooperation
Financial Times (Farhan Bokhari, “CHINA PLANS FIFTH NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR PAKISTAN”, Islamabad, 2010/11/08) reported that the PRC plans to supply Pakistan with a fifth nuclear energy reactor, accelerating Beijing’s commitments to its energy-starved south Asian ally, according to Pakistani government officials. Beijing’s growing support for Pakistan, including military hardware, poses a dilemma for Barack Obama, the US president, who arrived in India on Saturday. New Delhi is also becoming more concerned about Pakistan’s close relationship with the PRC.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/087cce10-eada-11df-b28d-00144feab49a.html#axzz14i1wWfhC