NAPSNet Daily Report Monday, October 02, 2006

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NAPSNet Daily Report Monday, October 02, 2006

NAPSNet Daily Report Monday, October 02, 2006

I. NAPSNet

II. CanKor

Preceding NAPSNet Report

I. NAPSNet

1. Six Party Talks Diplomacy

Reuters (“CHINA, SOUTH KOREA DISCUSS NORTH’S NUCLEAR PLANS”, 2006-09-29) reported that Wu Dawei, the PRC’s vice foreign minister and chief diplomat in charge of negotiations with the DPRK, supports the plan by Seoul and Washington to kick-start the stalled Six Party Talks. Wu arrived in Seoul earlier on Friday and met the ROK’s foreign minister, and its chief envoy to the six-country nuclear talks, Chun Yung-woo. ROK officials have declined to say what the proposal involved, but said it was designed to narrow differences between Washington and Pyongyang in the hope of resuming the talks. Wu also discussed a planned summit meeting between the leaders of the ROK and PRC that is expected to take place in mid-October in Beijing.

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2. Weapons Buildup on Korean Peninsula

Yonhap News Agency (“NORTH CALLS MISSILE ‘PROVOCATION'”, 2006-09-29) reported that the DPRK denounced the ROK for developing a new cruise missile, calling it an “intolerable provocation” leading to a “dangerous arms buildup” that could hurt inter-Korean relations and bring nuclear warfare on the Korean Peninsula. The statement follows last week’s reports that the RO Korean military has developed a new cruise missile capable of hitting most strategic targets throughout the DPRK. Military sources have said the new missile would be deployed at a guided missile command to be established within the next two years and is believed to be part of Seoul’s efforts to prepare for retaking wartime operational control of its soldiers from the United States, an event that critics say may negatively affect the country’s deterrence against the DPRK’s 1.1 million-strong military.

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3. Inter-Korean Military Talks

Associated Press (“NORTH KOREA COMPLAINS OVER PROPAGANDA AT MILITARY TALKS, NO BREAKTHROUGHS REACHED”, 2006-10-02) reported that the DPRK complained to Seoul about anti-Pyongyang propaganda during military talks that appeared to make little progress in thawing the chill in inter-Korean relations. In 2004, the two Koreas reached a no-propaganda accord, officially ending decades of fierce rhetorical battles using leaflets, loudspeakers and radio broadcasts. However, two groups of DPRK defectors have regularly tried to send leaflets condemning the DPRK leadership via small balloons. Col. Moon Sung-mook, Seoul’s chief negotiator “explained our efforts to prevent a recurrence and pointed out that the North should understand the diversity of South Korean society.” The one-day working-level talks in Panmunjom were the second official inter-Korean contact since the DPRK’s test-firing of missiles last July. No date has been set for future military talks.

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4. Inter-Korean Relations

Korea Information Service (“S. KOREANS TO VISIT PROHIBITED CEMETERY IN N. KOREA IN FIRST SANCTIONED TRIP”, 2006-09-29) reported that for the first time with ROK government approval, a group of 50 RO Koreans are to visit a cemetery in the DPRK that has been hitherto prohibited by the country’s anti-communist National Security Law. The group includes 26 families of former independence fighters who helped establish Korea’s provisional government in Shanghai during Japan’s colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century, according to Cho Young-nam, director of the ministry’s social and cultural exchanges bureau. “The government plans to approve the visit considering the fact that (the families) are purely hoping to pay a visit to graves of their ancestors and cherish their spirit of national independence,” Cho said in a press briefing, “The government, however, plans to disallow any activities (by the visiting delegates) that deviate from the original purpose of their visit.”

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5. DPRK UN Mission

Korea Times (“N. KOREA’S DEPUTY ENVOY TO UN TO BE REPLACED”, 2006-09-28) reported that the new DPR Korean deputy envoy to the United Nations will be an expert on arms reduction. In a New York dispatch, Yonhap said Han Song-ryol, deputy head of the DPRK’s UN mission, is expected to step down next month. Kim Myong-kil, a researcher from an institute of the DPRK’s Foreign Ministry on arms reduction and peace, is expected to take the post, it said, quoting diplomatic sources in New York. The DPRK’s UN mission refused to make any official comment on the report. The replacement, if it takes place, is expected to weaken the so-called New York channel between Pyongyang and Washington as Han has been working as the communist state’s de facto ambassador to the United States. Han has been in the post for the past five years although most DPR Korean diplomats serve three-year terms. Han’s successor graduated from Kim Il-sung University where he studied English literature. His latest visit to the United States was in October 2004 when he visited Harvard University and Stanford University along with other officials from his ministry institute.

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6. US-ROK Security Alliance

Chosun Ilbo (“KOREA, U.S. MAY FAIL TO AGREE ON TROOP CONTROL THIS MONTH”, 2006-10-02) reported that the ROK and the US could fail to narrow their differences at the Security Consultative Meeting in Washington on Oct. 20-21 over when Seoul will take over wartime operational control of its troops, officials fear. The US reaffirmed its position that the ROK has adequate defensive capability to take a leading role in the defense of the peninsula and should therefore take over by 2009. But the ROK says that is too soon, and considering the capabilities of the military and other factors it will have to be at least 2012.

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7. ROK Missile Defense System

Chosun Ilbo (“MILITARY TO BUY NEW MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM”, 2006-10-02) reported that a new missile defense system will be introduced next year to replace the country’s aging Nike missiles. The Defense Ministry says deployment of the system is set for 2008. A US Defense Department source says hopes are high that the purchase is a stepping stone enabling Seoul to improve its security capability.

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8. Ban Ki-moon UNSG Candidacy

The Associated Press (“SOUTH KOREAN FAVORED TO WIN TOP JOB AT U.N.”, 2006-10-02) reported that Ban Ki-moon, the ROK foreign minister, moved significantly closer to becoming the successor to Kofi Annan as United Nations secretary general by maintaining a wide lead over six other candidates in the Security Council’s third informal poll. Barring a veto, Mr. Ban’s election in a subsequent formal vote appears assured.

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9. US-Japan Missile Defense Cooperation

Agence France-Presse (“US IN FINAL STAGES OF INSTALLING MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IN JAPAN”, 2006-10-02) reported that the US military has entered the final stage of installing an advanced surface-to-air missile defense system in southern Japan, amid mounting concern over the DPRK’s missile launches. The US plans to begin partial operation of the PAC-3 system by the end of December and become fully operational by the end of next March, Kyodo said.

(return to top) Agence France-Press (“JAPANESE MAYOR PROTESTS US MISSILE DEFENSE “, 2006-10-02) reported that a Japanese mayor protested the US military’s deployment of surface-to-air missiles to protect against the DPRK, saying it overlooked local concerns. “The deployment of PAC-3 will cause additional worries to citizens,” said Mitsuko Tomon, mayor of Okinawa city. “There is resentment that the Japanese and US governments prioritized the military and proceeded with the deployment without giving the city information or an explanation,” she said. (return to top) Associated Press (“US RELOCATES X-BAND RADAR IN AOMORI TO WATCH NORTH KOREA”, 2006-09-29) reported that the US military has activated a high-powered radar outpost in northern Japan capable of tracking ballistic missiles, a key part of a joint missile defense project. The high-resolution radar can identify flying objects the size of a baseball from thousands of kilometers away and can differentiate between decoys and real warheads. It is part of a sweeping, multibillion dollar defense shield that includes joint production of new missiles capable of intercepting and destroying incoming missiles and the deployment of advanced Patriot interceptor missiles around Japan. Brooks declined to say if the X-band radar was redeployed to keep a better eye on the DPRK, but said, “we’re here in defense of Japan, and they put it in a location where they could best track the ballistic missiles.” (return to top)

10. USFJ Troop Realignment

The Yomiuri Shimbun (“REALIGNMENT TO COST JAPAN 1.86 TRILLION YEN”, 2006-10-02) reported that the Defense Agency has estimated the government’s total cost of the realignment of US military forces stationed in Japan at about 1.86 trillion yen, including the cost of relocating US marines to Guam, lower than the US government’s initial estimate of 3 trillion yen, government sources said Saturday.

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11. Japan-ROK Relations

Chosun Ilbo (“JAPANESE PM TO VISIT SEOUL IN MID-OCTOBER”, 2006-10-02) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seeking to visit Seoul for a summit with President Roh Moo-hyun in mid-October, right after the Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving holiday. The two leaders spoke over the phone and agreed to hold the meeting at an appropriate time to improve bilateral relations.

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12. Japan on Diplomacy and History

Agence France-Presse (“JAPAN’S ABE EYES ASIA TRIP BUT WON’T BUDGE ON SHRINE “, 2006-10-02) reported that Japan’s new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he hoped to go on a fence-mending tour of the PRC and ROK but refused to give ground on emotionally charged disputes over wartime history. “As I have said before, I personally believe I should not clarify whether I have visited or will visit Yasukuni shrine,” said Abe, who has hinted he will go to the Shinto shrine in secret.

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13. PRC Anti-Corruption Efforts

Agence France-Presse (“MORE OFFICIALS SACKED IN SHANGHAI CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION”, 2006-10-02) reported that Xu Jianguo, director of the Shanghai Economic Commission, Bao Xianming, top judge of the city’s No 1 Intermediate Court and Shen Mantang, vice head of its Maritime Court, were all relieved of their duties, Xinhua news agency reported. The dismissal has been linked to an apparent power play by President Hu Jintao to eliminate rivals ahead of a five-yearly Communist Party Congress expected late next year when a new group of leaders will be appointed.

(return to top) Agence France-Presse (“CHINA’S WEN PLEDGES GRAFT FIGHT, OPEN ECONOMY “, 2006-10-02) reported that PRC Premier Wen Jiabao pledged that the ruling Communist Party would maintain its fight against corruption and push ahead with the opening of its economy to the rest of the world. In a traditional address to the foreign diplomatic community and senior PRC officials on the eve of the PRC’s National Day, Wen said the government would continue to try to build a society of equals. (return to top)

14. Three Gorges Project

The Associated Press (“CHINA THREE GORGES DAM TO DISPLACE 1.4M “, 2006-10-02) reported that the total number of people who will be displaced by the PRC’s massive Three Gorges dam has been raised by 270,000, to 1.4 million people, state media said. The official Xinhua News Agency on Sunday quoted Pu Haiqing, head of the Cabinet-level Three Gorges Project Construction Committee, as saying that total would be reached before the project is completed in 2008.

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15. Bird Flu Outbreak

The Associated Press (“CHINA REPORTS NEW H5N1 BIRD FLU OUTBREAK”, 2006-10-02) reported that a new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu killed 985 chickens in the PRC’s northern region of Inner Mongolia, a state news agency reported Saturday. The discovery in a village near the city of Baotou prompted authorities to destroy 8,990 other chickens to prevent the virus from spreading, the Xinhua News Agency said.

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II. CanKor

16. Report #261

Korea Herald, Yonhap News (“DPRK FOOD SHORTAGE REACHES 800,000 TONS”, “ROK COMPANY SENDS COSMETICS AID TO DPRK”, 2006-09-22) The new WFP Country Director announces plans to feed 1.9 million DPR Koreans in order to mitigate an estimated 800,000-ton grain shortage this year. An ROK cosmetics company has meanwhile delivered half a million dollars worth of make-up products as “humanitarian aid” to the DPRK.

(return to top) Joong Ang Ilbo (“SEOUL HAS LONGER-RANGE CRUISE MISSILE”, 2006-09-20) The ROK announces development of a cruise missile capable of attacking the DPRK’s ballistic missile bases. The new missile’s range of 500 kilometers (300 miles) will be doubled within the next five years, and will be fitted on three new submarines that will join the Navy’s fleet next year. (return to top) KCNA (“KIM YONG NAM CALLS FOR NAM’S INCREASED ROLE”, 2006-09-16) Speaking at the Non-aligned Summit in Cuba, the DPRK’s No. 2 leader Kim Yong Nam says that because of Washington’s failure to respect the sovereignty of other countries, “the international order is disturbed, and peace and security in the world are seriously threatened.” (return to top) Washington Post (“WITH KOREA TALKS STALLED, USA TRIES NEW APPROACH”, 2006-09-21) With Six-Party Talks in suspended animation, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice convenes an expanded forum of ten countries (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Indonesia) to discuss Northeast Asian security concerns, but DPRK, China and Russia decline the invitation. (return to top)

17. Book Review

CanKor (“”THE GUEST” BY HWANG SOK-YONG”, 2006-09-22) In our BOOK REVIEW section, John Feffer examines the English translation of “The Guest,” a recent novel by Hwang Sok-Yong that provoked fierce controversy among readers in South Korea. A fictional minister of a Korean-American community in Brooklyn visits North Korea to meet the family he left behind as a young child and discovers the horrors of a fratricidal Korean War.

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