1. In Memoriam

(“In Memoriam”, ) Nautilus Institute regrets to inform readers that one of the giants of the global non-proliferation community, Sally Lillienthal, passed from this life in San Francisco on October 25, 2006. Sally Lillienthal founded Ploughshares Fund, one of the most important donors to efforts by civil society to reverse the proliferation spiral and to disarm weapons of mass destruction, wherever they are found. Ploughshares supported Nautilus since its founding, including NASPNet from its startup in 1993-4. She inspired and funded an entire generation of people devoted to solving this acute global problem. We are sure that one day, we will realize her vision of a planet not beset by nuclear weapons. We are all indebted to Sally for her unrelenting commitment to global peace and security, and for the way that she carried us all forward with her steel-like determination, tempered always by her wonderful sense of humor. Peter Hayes, Director, Nautilus Institute

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2. Nuclear Security Initiative

Korea Times (“NEW INITIATIVE TO HOLD NUKES IN CHECK”, 2006-10-30) reported that a dozen countries began a two-day meeting in Morocco on Monday to discuss efforts to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear and biochemical materials to terrorist groups, as part of a US-Russia initiative launched in July. The new initiative is expected to gain power by joining forces with the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a US-led effort to interdict cargo going to and from “rogue states” to prevent trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

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3. ROK Spy Investigation

Yonhap News (“SECURITY FORCES PROBE POLITICAL PARTIES FOR N. KOREAN SPIES”, 2006-10-30) reported that the ROK’s top intelligence agency, prosecution and police are working on a joint investigation into several leaders of political parties and social groups with alleged pro-Pyongyang links, prosecution sources said. Prosecutors have recently arrested five South Korean men, including a top official of a minor opposition party, on charges of spying for the DPRK. The five, all members of a suspected underground spy ring called “Ilsimhoe,” were charged with meeting suspected DPRK spies in PRC and receiving instructions from them to monitor ROK’s political and labor circles. The name describes an organization unified in its devotion to DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, said sources at the prosecution.

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4. DPRK on ROK Spy Investigation

Yonhap News (“N. KOREA LAMBASTS S. KOREA FOR PROBING SPY SCANDAL “, 2006-10-30) reported that the DPRK criticized the ROK for launching an investigation into alleged pro-Pyongyang espionage activities, saying the move is a plot to foster anti-DPRK sentiment to justify sanctions on the country. “That is a calculated plot and carefully-organized scheme by pro-U.S. conservative forces to curb growing voices supporting our nuclear test, foster anti-DPRK sentiments and stick to the sanctioning and stifling uproar,” said the North’s National Reconciliation Council in an article, carried by the DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency.

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5. ROK on DPRK Combat Readiness

Korea Times (“PYONGYANG FORTIFIES COMBAT READINESS AFTER NUCLEAR TEST”, 2006-10-30) reported that according to the Chosun Ilbo, DPRK has beefed up its combat readiness by test-firing five surface-to-air missiles during military exercises, in a move to prepare for possible military action by the US. “It’s an unusual move to fire as many as five ground-to-air missiles. The intelligence authorities are analyzing an ulterior motive behind the activity. We are paying attention to the fact that the move came amid Pyongyang’s strong protest against the U.N. resolution sanctioning it,” an ROK official was quoted as saying.

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6. US Internal Pressure on DPRK Nuclear Talks

Bloomberg News (“BUSH MAY OPEN TALKS WITH N. KOREA, FORMER U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS “, 2006-10-30) reported that US President George W. Bush may bow to political pressure from within the US and agree to direct talks with the DPRK, according to Kenneth Quinones a former State Department specialist on Kim Jong Il’s regime. “President Bush doesn’t change his policy because of external pressure,” Kenneth Quinones, said in an interview. “If he’s going to change in the near future, it’s because of domestic political pressure.”

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7. Inter-Korean Maritime Relations

Korea Herald (“CONSERVATIVES TARGET MARITIME AGREEMENT “, 2006-10-30) reported that debate raged yesterday in the ROK National Assembly over the validity of the inter-Korean maritime agreement aimed at preventing the passage of vessels carrying weapons-related material. DPRK vessels ignored 22 radio calls from the ROK Coast Guard while in ROK waters this year, said Rep. Kim Hyung-o of the opposition Grand National Party. The GNP claimed that the case proved the failure of the inter-Korean agreement in preventing the proliferation of DPRK weapons. But the Korea Coast Guard said that the transmission failures were merely technical problems.

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8. US on DPRK Nuclear Program

Yonhap News (“U.S. REPORT SAYS N.K. MAY HAVE BEEN SELLING MISSILES AS RECENTLY AS 2003-2004 “, 2006-10-28) reported that the DPRK was selling its missiles to the Near East as recently as 2003-2004, according to inferences made in the latest report by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS). The annual report, titled “Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations,” says 40 surface-to-surface missiles were sold to the Near East by “other suppliers” that exclude the US, Russia, PRC, and European countries.

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9. US Military on DPRK Nuclear Program

Voice of America (“US OFFICIAL SAYS FURTHER NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR TESTS PROBABLE”, 2006-10-30) reported that US General Burwell Bell said, that DPRK’s nuclear weapons test on October 9 probably will not be the last. “I can only surmise that since they’ve tested one, that we would see some time in the future yet again another test of a nuclear device,” he said. “I hope that that is not the case.”

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10. USFK on Preemptive Strike on DPRK

Korea Times (“USFK CHIEF RULES OUT PREEMPTIVE STRIKE ON NK”, 2006-10-30) reported that chief of USFK said that his combined forces command with the ROK military has no intention of preemptively striking the DPRK. But he accused the DPRK of “international provocations” with a series of missile and nuclear tests.

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11. US on USFK Transfer of Control

Yonhap News (“USFK COMMANDER HOPES TO SEE TIMELINE FOR WARTIME CONTROL TRANSFER EARLY NEXT YEAR”, 2006-10-30) reported that the chief of USFK expressed hope that the ROK and the US will be able to agree on a specific date for the transfer of wartime operational control early next year. “My expectation is that this plan will be completed by the end of the first half of 2007. To meet the desire of the ROK government, it is my hope that at that time we will be able to specify an exact planning date for the transfer of OPCON”.

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12. ASEAN on DPRK

International Herald Tribune (“ASEAN AND CHINA MEET ON NORTH KOREA”, 2006-10-30) reported that at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) talks, Southeast Asian leaders called Monday for a resumption of six-party talks aimed at resolving the standoff over the DPRK’s nuclear program, praising PRC efforts to seek a diplomatic solution.

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13. Philippines on DPRK

Manila Standard Today (“ARROYO CALLS NORTH KOREA ‘IRRATIONAL’”, 2006-10-30) reported that Philippine’s President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo described the DPRK government as “irrational” for conducting an underground nuclear test and refusing to return to Six-Party Talks. The President raised Pyongyang’s refusal to give up its nuclear enrichment program during her meeting with PRC Premier Wen. “The President has informed Chinese Premier Wen that the Philippines will support fully the United Nations Security Council to address the irrational behavior of North Korea,” Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

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14. DPRK Human Rights

Agence France Presse (“ATOMIC TEST SHOULD PROMPT ACTION ON RIGHTS IN NORTH KOREA: EXPERTS “, 2006-10-30) reported that The 142-page report, commissioned by former Czech president Vaclav Havel, ex-Norwegian prime minister Kjell Bondevik and US Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, said the human plight in the DPRK deserved to be treated on a parallel track with the security threat. The trio commissioned the report because they felt that “for far too long, the security threat posed by North Korea has relegated the human rights concerns in the impoverished country to a second-class status.”

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15. ROK-Japan Bilateral Talks

Yonhap News (“S. KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT JAPAN NEXT WEEK”, 2006-10-30) reported that ROK Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon visit Japan next week for talks that are expected to cover the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program, ministry officials said. Ban is scheduled to visit Tokyo on Nov. 5-6 to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso, the officials said.

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16. US-ROK Economic Cooperation

Yonhap News (“U.S. BEEF TO HIT S. KOREAN STORE SHELVES NEXT MONTH”, 2006-10-28) reported that the first shipment of US beef to the ROK is expected to hit local store shelves next month after undergoing thorough inspections, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Monday. “The frozen shipment that arrived earlier in the day on a flight from the United States contains roughly 9.3 tons of beef in more that 720 separate packages,” said ministry spokesman Lee Yang-ho. He said government inspectors will look through every package to check for possible health risk problems. The inspection can take up to two weeks.

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