I. United States

1. DPRK Dissent

LA Times (“SECRET N. KOREAN FOOTAGE SUGGESTS NASCENT DISSENT”, 2005-05-23) reported that footage of anti-government banners was smuggled out of the DPRK across the PRC border by activists working with the Seoul-based Citizens Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and North Korean Refugees. Among DPRK watchers, there is some debate about whether the filmmakers were motivated mainly by their opposition to the government or by greed, since many of the videos have been sold to Japanese television stations, which have paid as much as $200,000 for choice footage. That people are able to make such videos challenges many of the assumptions about Kim’s grip on power. The videos do not necessarily mean the government is on the verge of collapse – the majority opinion among analysts is that it is not – but their existence shows that social control is fraying at the edges. The footage has been widely shown on television and Internet sites, including http://www.dailynk.com/file/2005/01/19/DNKR00001267.wmv

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2. Hans Blix on DPRK Nuclear Program

Kyodo News (“SCOPE: BLIX SAYS N.KOREA PROBABLY HAS NUCLEAR WEAPONS”, 2005-05-25) reported that Hans Blix, former chairman of the UN Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission, says it is probable that the DPRK possesses nuclear weapons. “I think it is highly plausible that they would have nuclear weapons or nuclear devices, because already in the early 90s they were declaring plutonium,” he said in an interview with Kyodo News. “They have now had over 10 years to produce more plutonium and also to acquire the technique of the bomb,” Blix said, speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference at the UN.

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3. ROK on DPRK Nuclear Issue

Joongang Ilbo (“CHUNG CAUTIONS NORTH OVER NUCLEAR ARMS CRISIS “, 2005-05-26) reported that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young warned yesterday that his government’s policy of trying to engage the DPRK would be reconsidered if Pyongyang takes steps that could threaten to deepen the current nuclear crisis. While Mr. Chung urged Pyongyang not to engage in any provocative action that may put Seoul’s engagement policy in jeopardy, he made clear that he objects to any sanctions against the DPRK.

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4. PRC on Six-party Talks

Yonhap News (“CHINA TELLS U.S. SEOUL’S N.K. POLICY IS DELAYING TALKS: LAWMAKER”, 2005-05-27) reported that the PRC conveyed a message to the US that its ability to persuade the DPRK to return to nuclear talks would be difficult as long as the ROK continues its “appeasement” of the DPRK. Rep. Park Jin of the opposition Grand National Party also said a senior US government official he recently met in Washington told him that the ROK’s role is as a barometer, not a balancer, in the dispute over the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program.

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5. Russia-DPRK Relations

Yonhap News (“RUSSIAN OFFICIAL TO VISIT N.KOREA IN AUGUST”, 2005-05-26) reported that a senior Russian official will visit the DPRK in August, a trip expected to cover the international standoff over the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program. Konstantin Pulikovsky told Moscow’s Interfax News Agency that he will go to Pyongyang to attend a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan, the Voice of Russia said. In the interview, Pulikovsky also called for international energy aid, such as the supply of power transmission lines and natural gas, for the DPRK, saying the DPRK’s nuclear programs are meant to resolve its chronic energy shortages.

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6. DPRK-Japan Relations

Yonhap News (“N.KOREA REJECTS JAPANESE COMPLAINT OVER DOKDO STAMP”, 2005-05-26) reported that the DPRK rejected a complaint by Japan over issuance of postage stamps featuring a cluster of remote ROK islets also claimed by Tokyo. Japan lodged its protest with the DPRK Embassy in Beijing through a faxed letter, in which Tokyo said it would not tolerate the issuance of stamps and described it as a breach of the charter and spirit of the Universal Postal Union, an international postal affairs supervisory body. In response, the KCNA carried an editorial which said “We would like to stress once again that any of Japan’s arguments about the Tok Islet (Dokdo) will only stoke the anti-Japanese sentiment among all Koreans. Japan’s claim to the islet is as foolish an act as trying to sweep the sea with a broom.”

(return to top) The Japan Times (“NORTH KOREA FERRY TOLD TO KEEP NOISE DOWN”, 2005-05-26) reported that the Niigata Prefecture Government has issued a warning to the DPRK ferry Mangyongbong-92 for playing loud music when it came into port Monday, and the ship could be denied entry in the future if no appropriate response is received, Niigata officials said Wednesday. The prefecture government sent the written warning through an agent in Tokyo to the Pyongyang-based ferry operator and has requested a reply, although no deadline was given, the officials said. Depending on the ferry operator’s response, the Niigata governor might not permit the ship to dock on its next scheduled call Monday. (return to top)

7. Trilateral Summit on DPRK Nuclear Issue

Yonhap News (“SEOUL TO ARRANGE EAST ASIAN SUMMIT: MINISTER CHUNG”, 2005-05-26) reported that the ROK will push to hold a three-way summit with the PRC and Japan in a separate country to discuss the DPRK nuclear standoff and other pending regional issues. “South Korea will play a promoter’s role in realizing a summit of the three East Asian countries outside the region,” ROK Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said, stressing that Seoul is ready to act as a “peace balancer” in the region. Chung also revealed that Seoul plans to put forward an “important proposal” for the settlement of the DPRK nuclear crisis, if the DPRK returns to the six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.

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8. ROK, Japan on ROK-US Ties

The Korea Herald (“SEOUL SUMMONS JAPAN AMBASSADOR OVER YACHI REMARKS ON KOREA-US TIES”, 2005-05-27) reported that the ROK’s foreign ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest remarks by Japan’s vice foreign minister that the US does not trust the ROK. Cheong Wa Dae also voiced stern disapproval toward Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi for making “irresponsible and diplomatically insolvent remarks” and demanded the Japanese government reprimand him. Yachi’s remarks may cast clouds over the prospects of the scheduled summit talks between President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi slated for next month, analysts here said.

(return to top) Kyodo News (“SEOUL URGES TOKYO TO DISCIPLINE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER YACHI”, 2005-05-26) reported that the ROK urged Japan to take disciplinary action against Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi, who reportedly said Japan is reluctant to share information with the ROK because the US does not trust the ROK on the issue of the DPRK’s nuclear programs. “The remark cannot be passed over in silence for the future relationship between Korea and Japan,” presidential spokesman Kim Man Soo said in a briefing. “The Japanese government should take due measures against the irresponsible remark made by a bureaucrat who ought to behave in a responsible manner,” Kim said. (return to top)

9. US-ROK Summit

Chosun Ilbo (“KOREA’S NEW BALANCING ROLE ON U.S. SUMMIT AGENDA”, 2005-05-26) reported that the ROK’s ambition to play a balancing role in Northeast Asia will reportedly be a topic of conversation between the ROK and US presidents when they meet in Washington on June 10. Seoul says the new role means that they would try to mediate between the PRC and Japan rooted in its alliance with the US, but some fear that the plan shakes the foundations of the US-ROK alliance.

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10. ROK-US Relations

Yonhap News (“S.KOREAN, U.S. DEFENSE CHIEFS TO MEET NEXT MONTH IN SINGAPORE”, 2005-05-26) reported that the ROK Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung is scheduled to meet US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Singapore on June 3. “Although they did not set concrete or detailed subjects for the talks, they may exchange opinions about various topics such as the North Korean nuclear issue, relocation of U.S. Forces Korea and bilateral cooperation,” ROK Defense officials said.

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11. ROK-PRC Relations

Chosun Ilbo (“GNP LEADER CALLS CHINA KOREA’S ‘BEST PARTNER'”, 2005-05-26) reported that ROK Grand National Party chairwoman Park Geun-hye said the PRC was the ROK’s best partner in the world market, and vice-versa. Giving a lecture at Peking University, Park said if the two partners “could eventually merge into a single market, our future would be even brighter.” Turning to the DPRK nuclear dispute, Park reiterated that the PRC’s role as a competent mediator was necessary, and that the international community must make it clear that the DPRK faces dire consequences if it pushes ahead with its nuclear arms program, while at the same time providing Pyongyang with generous aid if it gives it up.

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12. ROK-Japan Relations

The Korea Times (“UNIFICATION MINISTER URGES JAPAN TO SHOW REMORSE”, 2005-05-26) reported that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young Thursday reiterated that the ROK will present an “important proposal’’ to resolve the deepening DPRK nuclear standoff, if and when Pyongyang returns to the bargaining table. Stressing the ROK’s role as a “balancer” in Northeast Asia, he said the ROK will push for a three-way summit with the PRC and Japan to discuss historical disputes and regional security. Relations between the three regional powers have been battered by historical disputes and differences in opinion on the DPRK nuclear issue.

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13. ROK Military Plans

Chosun Ilbo (“PLANS TO BOOST MILITARY STRENGTH DETAILED”, 2005-05-26) reported that the ROK Defense Ministry has decided to invest heavily over the next five years to improve independent intelligence gathering on the DPRK military. The ROK military currently depends almost completely on the US for such intelligence. It now plans to get hold of state-of-the-art airborne warning and control systems and acquire or develop highly capable high or mid-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), all by 2010.

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14. Inter-Korean Exchanges

Donga Ilbo (“NORTH FINDS STAMP SELLING LUCRATIVE”, 2005-05-25) reported that a vice ministerial-level meeting between the two Koreas was held in Kaesong from May 16 to 19. It was reported on May 24 that during the meeting, the DPRK requested the ROK allow the sale of the DPRK’s Dokdo stamps in the DPRK. Kim Ung-hee, a director general of the exchange and cooperation coordination division at the Unification Ministry, said that DPRK’s request was not official and it only came when the delegates from each side were chatting. Kim added that after the request, however, the ministry is reconsidering its policy of banning DPRK’s Dokdo stamps from being brought into the ROK.

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15. June 15 Celebration Preparations

Yonhap News (“S.KOREAN OPERA TO BE STAGED IN PYONGYANG FOR SUMMIT ANNIVERSARY”, 2005-05-25) reported that an ROK opera will be performed in Pyongyang on June 15 to mark the fifth anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit, the opera’s producer said Wednesday. “A 100-member troupe will visit Pyongyang at the invitation of the North Korean preparatory committee for the joint summit celebrations,” Kim Suk-man, professor of the Korean National University of Arts, said.

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16. Inter-Korean Fashion Show in Kaesong

Chosun Ilbo (“S.KOREAN COMPANY HOLDS FASHION SHOW IN N.KOREA”, 2005-05-26) reported that an ROK clothing company opened a fashion show in the DPRK’s Kaesong industrial complex on Thursday to celebrate the company’s completion of a manufacturing plant there. Sinwon, a medium-sized company specializing in casual wear, has invited Hyundai Group Chairman Hyun Jeong-eun along with some 500 related officials from the two Koreas to the event. The fashion show will feature about a hundred female outfits and men’s casual wear and popular ROK entertainers, like Kim Tae-hee, will walk on the runway.

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17. US NGO on Sanctions Against PRC for DPRK Human Rights

Donga Ilbo (“US COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTH KOREA (HRNK) PURSUES RETALIATORY TARIFF LAW AGAINST CHINA “, 2005-05-26) reported that the US Committee for Human Rights in the DPRK is pursuing the passage of a law, called the “Scoop Jackson Bill,” which will impose a retaliatory tariff of 27.5 percent on PRC imports, considering the PRC’s coercive repatriation of DPRK defectors back to their country. The Scoop Jackson bill demands for a 27.5 percent retaliatory tariff if the PRC does not show any signs of change within 180 days after the enactment of such law. One of the demands includes the prohibition of hindrance during the UNHCR investigation process on the PRC’s human rights status.

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18. US Recovery of MIA in DPRK Suspended

Agence France-Presse (“US SUSPENDS MIA RECOVERY OPERATIONS IN NORTH KOREA”, 2005-05-25) reported that the US military has suspended operations to recover remains of missing US servicemembers in the DPRK because the uncertain political conditions have raised conerns about the protection of US military personnel there. The US government made the decision Tuesday after a 27-member military team had left the DPRK with a set of remains believed to be of US soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. Lawrence DiRita, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said the suspension was promted by the uncertain climate created by the DPRK’s refusal to return to six-party talks and its recent declarations concerning its intentions to develop nuclear weapons. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recommended that the MIA recovery missions be halted and there was “a complete consensus” within the government in favor of it, DiRita told reporters.

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19. German Unification Expert on Inter-Korean Exchanges

Chosun Ilbo (“STRINGS NEED TO BE ATTACHED TO S.KOREAN AID TO N.K.: U.S. EXPERT”, 2005-05-26) reported that a US expert on German unification says strings must be attached to the ROK’s aid to the DPRK. For starters, this means getting the DPRK to widen its scope of cultural exchanges with the ROK. “Already the importation of South Korean soap operas, I heard is changing North Korea. So more cultural exchanges mean more possibilities for people to learn how they are different from each other.”

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