Preceding NAPSNet Report

I. United States

1. ROK on DPRK Nuclear Talks

Reuters (“U.S. SEEN MOVING QUICKLY ON N. KOREA TALKS AFTER ELECTION”, 2004-10-14) reported that no matter who wins the Nov. 2 election, the US is expected to move quickly to engage the DPRK in a new round of talks about its suspected nuclear weapons programs, ROK ambassador Han Sung-joo said on Wednesday. In an interview with Reuters, Han said it was “quite plausible” that if Democratic candidate John Kerry ousts President Bush, the DPRK will wait until Kerry takes office on Jan. 20 to return to the negotiating table. But once sworn in, Kerry is expected to swiftly begin implementing his policy toward the DPRK, the ROK envoy to the US said.

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2. PRC on DPRK Nuclear Talks

Yonhap (“CHINESE NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR LEAVES FOR U.S.”, 2004-10-14) reported that a PRC diplomat left Seoul Thursday after two days of consultations with ROK officials on the troubled six-way talks on the DPRK’s nuclear program. Seoul was Ning’s first stop on his two-nation tour that also takes him to the US. In Washington, he is expected to meet his US counterpart, Joseph DeTrani, for similar discussions. Based on Ning’s consultations in the ROK and US, the PRC is expected to talk with the DPRK on how to resume the stalled six-nation talks, Seoul officials said.

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3. ROK on DPRK Relations

Agence France-Presse (“SOUTH KOREAN FM URGES PYONGYANG TO RETURN TO NUCLEAR TALKS”, 2004-10-14) reported that the ROK foreign minister Ban Ki-Moon has urged the DPRK to pay heed to mounting international concern over its nuclear weapons drive and return to dialogue to defuse the standoff. The DPRK on Wednesday repeated that it had no plans to rejoin multilateral talks aimed at resolving the stand-off. “The international community is in common in sharing the position that the six-party talks must take place at the earliest possible date,” Ban said at a weekly press briefing. “I urge again North Korea to pay heed to this common international view and return to dialogue at an early date,” he said.

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4. DPRK Military

Kyodo (“N. KOREAN LEADER KIM INSPECTS AIR FORCE UNIT”, 2004-10-14) reported that DPRK leader Kim Jong Il has inspected the army’s air force unit, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. The KCNA did not mention when Kim inspected Air Force Unit 447 of the DPRK People’s Army. The agency published a similar report on Kim’s visit to the same unit on Tuesday. “He stressed that the airspace of the country is impenetrable” as “the sky is protected by loyalists who are ready to dedicate their lives to the party, the revolution, the country and the people,” the report said.

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5. ROK on DPRK Submarines

Korea Herald (“THE SUB THAT NEVER WAS … DEFENSE MINISTRY SAYS”, 2004-10-14) reported that the Defense Ministry yesterday rejected a news report that the Navy had taken military action against two DPRK submarines which had intruded into southern waters on the nation’s east coast. Ministry spokesman Nam Dae-yeon repeated the same conclusion expressed Wednesday, that the military had found no clear evidence of any intrusion, though the Navy had conducted anti-submarine operations off the east coast from Sunday until yesterday morning.

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6. MIA / POW Joint Recovery Operations

Associated Press (“N. KOREA TO SHIP POSSIBLE MIA REMAIN”, 2004-10-14) reported that remains believed to be those of US soldiers have been recovered in DPRK and will be returned home this week a half century after the 1950-53 Korean War ended, the US military said Thursday. US and DPRK teams are recovering remains of US soldiers missing from the Korean War in a joint search project that began in 1996. So far the work has recovered over 180 sets of remains thought to be of US soldiers.

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7. DPRK on ROK Nuclear Experiment

Associated Press (“N KOREA: UN NUCLEAR CHIEF DEFENDING S KOREA ATOMIC TESTS”, 2004-10-14) reported that the DPRK’s Foreign Ministry accused Mohamed ElBaradei, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, of employing “double standards” that threaten security in Northeast Asia. “We cannot overlook the irresponsible attitude taken by ElBaradei, ignoring the reality and forgetful of his duty,” an unnamed Foreign Ministry spokesman told the DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency.

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8. DPRK In Vitro Birth

Kyodo (“NORTH KOREA’S 1ST IN VITRO FERTILIZATION BIRTH REPORTED”, 2004-10-14) reported that Hideaki Imaizumi, a pioneer in Japan’s in vitro fertilization program, said Thursday that the DPRK’s first test-tube baby was born in June through medical equipment and know-how he gave to a DPRK hospital. Imaizumi, 58, was a member of the Tohoku University team that successfully achieved Japan’s first in vitro fertilization some 20 years ago. Imaizumi said when he visited Pyongyang to provide medical assistance in 1991.

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9. DPRK Exchange Students

Chosun Ilbo (“NEW BREED OF NK STUDENTS ARRIVE IN RUSSIA “, 2004-10-14) reported that with the start of a new semester in September, a new generation of DPRK students showed up for classes at Russian universities and drew the attention of other students because of how different the DPRK citizens looked from the ones arriving before them. The new students do not wear badges depicting late DPRK leader Kim Il-sung, they are fluent in English and they are not reluctant to talk with foreign students. With sophisticated manners and foreign language skills, including English, these new DPRK students have surprised professors at Russia universities.

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10. KEDO LWR Project

Yonhap (“KEDO UNLIKELY TO DECIDE FATE OF REACTOR PROJECT IN N. KOREA”, 2004-10-14) reported that the US-led international consortium overseeing the construction of two nuclear reactors in the DPRK is unlikely to decide the fate of the US$4.6 billion project this week, officials said Wednesday. The four key financiers of the project — the ROK, the US, Japan and the EU — are to open two-day talks here Wednesday to discuss the issue.

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11. US on KEDO LWR Project

Yomiuri Shimbun (“U.S. TO PROPOSE TERMINATION OF THE LWR PROJECT IN NORTH KOREA AT KEDO EB MEETING”, 2004-10-14) reported that the US Government has decided to propose the termination of the Light-Water Reactor project in the DPRK at the Executive Board meeting of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) to be held Thursday, a senior US official said. The US official said “it is clear that the LWRs will not be constructed in North Korea. The question is when and how to terminate what is being frozen.”

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12. ROK on KEDO LWR Project

Korea Times (“SEOUL, WASHINGTON HAGGLE OVER NK REACTOR PROJECT”, 2004-10-14) reported that the ROK wants the suspended construction of two light-water nuclear reactors in the DPRK to be resumed in future if the current international standoff over the DPRK’s atomic weapons programs is resolved, Seoul’s top diplomat said Thursday. “Though the project has been stopped due to the (DPRK’s) nuclear problem, we believe it should be resumed if the six-party talks go well and produce tangible results,” Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon said in his weekly news briefing.

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13. EU on KEDO LWR Project

Yonhap (“EU SUPPORTS CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF REACTOR PROJECT IN N. KOREA”, 2004-10-14) reported that a European Union official said Thursday that a nuclear reactor project in the DPRK should continue to be suspended to give diplomacy more time to resolve tension over the DPRK’s nuclear arms program. The EU ambassador to the ROK, Dorian Prince, took the stand as four key members of an international consortium overseeing the US$4.6 billion reactor project were to meet in New York this week to discuss the issue.

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14. DPRK Defectors

Yonhap (“THREE N.K. RESIDENTS DEFECT TO S. KOREA ABOARD BOAT IN EAST SEA”, 2004-10-14) reported that a DPRK ship carrying three northern residents defected to the ROK by way of the nation’s eastern sea border off Goseong County of Gangwon Province, about 460 kilometers east of Seoul, the ROK Navy said. The DPRK ship and the three defectors were then towed to the Geojin Port in Goseong County at 5:30 p.m. for investigations and questioning by military authorities, it said.

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15. ROK on DPRK Defectors

Yonhap (“S. KOREA TO SEND BACK TROUBLED N. KOREAN BOAT”, 2004-10-14) reported that the Defense Ministry said Thursday the ROK government plans to send back a DPRK boat which drifted into the ROK waters across the East Sea border Thursday afternoon for engine trouble and its three crewmen to the DPRK Friday. The repatriation decision was made for humanitarian reasons in line with a previous inter-Korean military agreement to avoid armed clashed in maritime borders, the ministry said in a statement.

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16. DPRK Defectors in the US

Donga Ilbo (“TWO NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES TO REQUEST POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE U.S.”, 2004-10-14) reported that Chairman Kim Yong of the US North Korean Refugee Association reported on October 13 that two DPRK refugees entered the US via Los Angeles International Airport, requesting political asylum. Chairman Kim announced that Jung Sung-il (35) and Jang Sun-young (42) escaped from the DPRK last August or September and stayed in the PRC for a short period. The two refugees who entered the US will request asylum from the US Federal Immigrations Office.

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17. ROK – Japanese Relations

Associated Press (“S KOREAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT JAPAN IN DECEMBER”, 2004-10-14) reported that President Roh Moo-hyun will visit Japan in December to discuss bilateral ties and the dispute over the DPRK’s nuclear weapons programs, the ROK’s foreign minister said Thursday. During the Dec. 17-18 visit, Roh will meet Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at Ibusuki on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu to discuss “cooperating for a peaceful solution” of the DPRK nuclear crisis, said Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon.

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18. PRC, ROK on Japanese PSI Drill

Kyodo (“CHINA, S. KOREA WILL NOT JOIN WMD INTERCEPTION DRILL OFF JAPAN”, 2004-10-14) reported that the PRC and the ROK will not take part in a multinational marine exercise on intercepting weapons of mass destruction to be held later this month in the Pacific Ocean off Japan, a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The two nations recently conveyed their intentions not to take part. Their responses followed the DPRK’s backlash at Japan for hosting the drill, saying Tokyo is assuming a provocative attitude as the drill targets the DPRK.

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19. ROK on Gando Convention

Chosun Ilbo (“FOREIGN MINISTER TAKES BACK CALL TO NULLIFY GANDO CONVENTION”, 2004-10-14) reported that in regards to the ministry’s parliamentary audit report that claims the Gando Convention is null and void, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the claim had been an administrative mistake and he asked for understanding. Minister Ban said at a briefing that the Gando Convention should be interpreted by international law and politics, and a number of complex factors.

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20. US – ROK Relations

Chosun Ilbo (“U.S. AMBASSADOR SUPPORTS NO VISAS FOR KOREA”, 2004-10-14) reported that US Ambassador to the ROK Christopher Hill said Thursday that he would do his best to include the ROK in the US list of visa exempted countries as soon as possible and that an FTA between Korea and the US would bring mutual benefits.

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21. Sino – ROK Relations

Korea Times (“KEPCO TO BUILD POWER PLANT IN CHINA”, 2004-10-14) reported that state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), the country’s dominant power producer, on Thursday broke the ground for the construction of two thermal power plants, each with a 50,000 kilowatt power generation capacity, in Henan Province, PRC, the company said. It said the plant-building project will step up the company’s entry into the PRC market. Following the completion of construction in July 2006, KEPCO will also take charge of operating the plants for 23 years and receive more than 10 percent in dividends per year, the company said.

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22. ROK on US Elections

Joongang Ilbo (“KOREANS SPURN BUSH, BUT LIKE AMERICANS “, 2004-10-14) reported that the results of a worldwide survey on the role of the US showed Koreans have a favorable opinion about the US and believe the country’s international leadership is important, but have a personal antipathy toward President George W. Bush. According to the JoongAng Ilbo’s survey, 65 percent of the 1,028 Koreans polled said they felt favorable toward the US and 67 percent said it was important for the US to play a leadership role on the world stage. But 72 percent of the respondents felt unfavorable toward George W. Bush.

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23. Japan PM on US Elections

Xinhua (“JAPANESE PM KOIZUMI WANTS BUSH TO STAY AS US PRESIDENT”, 2004-10-14) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday he wants George W. Bush to retain the US presidency in the country’s upcoming election. “I don’t want to interfere with another country’s election but since I’m well-acquainted with President Bush, I want him to carry on,” Koizumi told reporters at his office when asked about Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry’s lead in the latest poll.

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24. Japan on UNSC Bid

Agence France-Presse (“JAPAN PM SEEKS TO WIN OVER HESITANT NEIGHBORS IN SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT BID”, 2004-10-14) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi says he hopes to win over the PRC and other Asian nations which are hesitant about Tokyo’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. “It is important for us to seek the understanding of our neighbor countries when we go ahead with our plan to become a member of the UN Security Council,” Koizumi told the Diet, the country’s parliament.

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25. Japan on Whaling Ban

Reuters (“JAPAN FUMES OVER WHALES AS U.N. MEETING WINDS UP”, 2004-10-14) reported that Japan was fuming over the failure of its bid to expand trade in whale products and Africa swapped blows over ivory Thursday as a UN meeting on trade in wild plants and animals wrapped up. Japan’s prospects for success were dim as most decisions were thrashed out earlier in the two-week conference and the plenary session is usually a rubber-stamp affair.

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26. Cross Strait Talks

The Associated Press (“TAIWAN EXTENDS INVITATION TO CHINA’S TOP NEGOTIATOR FOR TALKS”, 2004-10-14) reported that Taiwan is willing to invite China’s top negotiator to visit Taiwan in a bid to resume stalled cross-strait talks, a senior official said Thursday. In a keynote speech marking the sixth anniversary of a 1998 Shanghai meeting between both sides, Joseph Wu, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said Taiwan is looking forward to holding a third round of high-level talks to be attended by Wang Daohan, head of the Beijing-based nongovernmental Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait.

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27. PRC on Cross Strait Relations

Washington Post (“BEIJING LAMBASTES CHEN ON OFFER OF NEW TALKS”, 2004-10-14) reported that after three days of silence, the PRC government has rejected the offer of Taiwan’s president, Chen Shui-bian, to make a fresh start on cross-strait discussions, saying Chen cannot be trusted. The dismissive conclusion, in a statement issued Wednesday by the government’s Taiwan Affairs Office, reflected a long-standing assessment here that, no matter what he might say at a given moment, Chen remains determined to lead the self-governing island to formal independence.

Los Angeles Times (“CHINA LASHES OUT AT TAIWAN’S CALL FOR RENEWED DIALOGUE”, 2004-10-14) reported that after three days of silence, the PRC on Wednesday slammed Taiwan’s proposal to reduce cross-strait tensions, arguing that the initiative was deceptive and part of a veiled attempt to gain independence. “Chen Shui-bian claimed that he intends to ease tensions and confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, but has obstinately stuck to his separatist stand of ‘one country on each side’ of the Strait,” Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference in Beijing.

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28. Taiwan Nuclear Experiment

The New York Times (“TAIWAN MAY HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH ATOMIC BOMB INGREDIENT”, 2004-10-14) reported that Taiwan may have carried out plutonium separation experiments in the mid-1980’s, taking its nuclear program a step further than previously disclosed, The Associated Press reported Wednesday from Vienna. That program has since been abandoned, but the news agency said the International Atomic Energy Agency had found evidence that experiments were carried out during the island’s brief revival of a nuclear weapons program in the 1980’s under President Chiang Ching-kuo.

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29. Taiwan on Nuclear Experiment

The Associated Press (“TAIWAN DENIES IT DABBLED IN PLUTONIUM EXPERIMENTS IN AN ABANDONED NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM”, 2004-10-14) reported that Taiwan on Thursday denied that the island’s nuclear weapons program – abandoned in the 1980s – involved experimenting with separating plutonium. Yang Chao-yie, deputy chairman of the Taiwanese Cabinet’s Atomic Energy Council, told The AP that the experiments didn’t happen. Scientists only researched the possibility of making nuclear arms, Yang said.

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30. Sino – US Trade Relations

Reuters (“OIL, CHINA PUSH U.S. TRADE GAP NEAR RECORD”, 2004-10-14) reported that the politically sensitive US trade deficit widened more than expected in August to its second-highest level on record, fueled by the highest oil import prices in 23 years and record imports from the PRC, the US government said on Thursday. The politically sensitive trade deficit with the PRC widened to a record $15.4 billion in August as imports hit a record $18.1 billion. The Bush administration so far has been stymied in its effort to persuade the PRC to adopt more flexible exchange rate policies.

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31. PRC Trade Balance

The Associated Press (“CHINA’S TRADE BALANCE SWINGS INTO SURPLUS”, 2004-10-14) reported that the PRC’s trade balance swung from deficit to surplus in September as exports jumped and the country’s voracious appetite for industrial raw materials eased, the government said Thursday. The PRC posted a $3.9 billion trade surplus for the first nine months of the year – a sharp turnaround from the $950 million deficit for the first eight months, the government said.

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32. Sino – Russian Relations

Reuters (“RUSSIA’S PUTIN HEARS ENERGY – THIRSTY CHINA’S NEEDS”, 2004-10-14) reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin headed into talks with PRC leaders Thursday aiming to boost trade, but cautious not to make promises he cannot keep on oil and gas projects. Putin has ruled out the PRC’s hopes for an oil pipeline from western Siberia and is staying quiet on prospects for an $18 billion project to take gas to the PRC, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, and the ROK.

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33. Sino – Mongolian Relations

Xinhua (“CHINA, MONGOLIA DIPLOMATIC TIES MARKED”, 2004-10-14) reported that the PRC People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) hosted a reception here Thursday to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the PRC and Mongolia. CPAFFC Vice President Wang Yunze said the PRC and Mongolia are “friendly neighbors with long traditional friendship between their people,” and that the countries have achieved a great deal in bilateral relationship over the past 55 years.

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34. PRC Hostage Issue

The Associated Press (“PAKISTANI FORCES RESCUE CHINESE HOSTAGE”, 2004-10-14) reported that Pakistani commandos on Thursday raided a house near the Afghan border where two PRC engineers were being held hostage, rescuing one and killing all five kidnappers, officials said. The second hostage died of gunshot wounds.

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35. PRC AIDS Issue

Agence France-Presse (“CHINA TO CONDUCT FIRST NATIONWIDE SURVEY ON AIDS EPIDEMIC”, 2004-10-14) reported that the PRC will conduct the first-ever nationwide survey to learn the extent of an AIDS epidemic from blood selling, demanding local governments find and test every person who sold blood. The Ministry of Health issued an order Wednesday requesting provinces and cities throughout the RPC carry out a comprehensive search to “fully grasp” who sold blood and test them for the HIV virus.