NAPSNet Daily Report Tuesday, August 30, 2005

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NAPSNet Daily Report Tuesday, August 30, 2005

NAPSNet Daily Report Tuesday, August 30, 2005

I. United States

Preceding NAPSNet Report

I. United States

1. Six Party Talks

The Korea Times (“‘INTERNAL FACTORS’ LED NK TO DELAY NUKE TALKS”, 2005-08-30) reported that Pyongyang had to delay its return to the six party talks, which were originally planned to reconvene this week, due to “internal factors,” DPRK experts in Seoul said. The US agreed to the delay until the week of Sept. 12, saying that Washington takes Pyongyang’s complaints, on the appointment of a human rights envoy and the ROK-US military exercise, at “face value.”

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2. US on Six Party Talks

The Chosun Ilbo (“U.S. AGREES TO N.K.’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF DELAYING 6-PARTY TALKS”, 2005-08-30) reported that despite the delay in the resumption of six party talks, Washington says it remains optimistic about DPRK’s commitment to the negotiations.

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3. PRC on Six Party Talks

RIA Novosti (“CHINESE LEADER TO DISCUSS KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE WITH PRESIDENT BUSH”, 2005-08-30) reported that the PRC Chairman Hu Jintao will meet with President George Bush in the US to discuss the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula, the PRC Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. “China is hopeful that all the sides will stick to a productive position, seek to foster mutual trust, and look for a solution to the problems to ensure that the talks bear fruit,” the PRC official said.

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4. US Congressmen to Visit DPRK

Agence France Presse (“US LAWMAKERS HEAD TO N. KOREA OVER NUCLEAR DIFFERENCES “, 2005-08-30) reported that two US Congressmen are heading for DPRK in a bid to narrow the gaps separating the two sides and urge the DPRK to quickly return to talks on its nuclear weapons drive. Tom Lantos, a Democrat from California, and Iowa Republican Jim Leach departed from Beijing to the DPRK. “The last session went extremely well. We are headed to Pyongyang to clarify the remaining problems and to urge the North Korean government to return to talks in two weeks,” Lantos told reporters at Beijing airport.

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5. DPRK on US-ROK Joint Military Operations

Yonhap News (“PYONGYANG DUBS SEOUL ‘TRAITOR’ FOR JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE”, 2005-08-30) reported that DPRK on criticized ROK’s involvement in the annual joint military exercises with the US, calling it “treacherous acts.” The commentary, also carried by the KCNA, stressed that the US should immediately stop its military blackmail maneuvering if it really wants to peacefully resolve the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

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6. US on DPRK Military

The Chosun Ilbo (“N.KOREA AS READY FOR WAR AS EVER: USFK CHIEF “, 2005-08-30) reported that US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Leon LaPorte says there has been no real change in DPRK’s readiness for war over the last five years, and it is maintaining its normal operational level regardless of its economic difficulties. The New York Times, in a report largely based on an interview with LaPorte, also reported the USFK was changing its strategy for a potential military clash with the DPRK against a background of new war and combat concepts and military technology.

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7. DPRK-US Relations

Yonhap News (“N.K. DENOUNCES U.S. GENERAL FOR DEFENDING ARMISTICE”, 2005-08-30) reported that DPRK media criticized the top US military commander in ROK on Tuesday for saying an armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War has helped ensure peace on the peninsula. Pyongyang has long insisted on the establishment of a peace treaty to replace the armistice, which still leaves the two Koreas technically in a state of war. Critics say, however, the DPRK’s demand is only aimed at forcing the US to withdraw its troops from ROK.

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8. Inter-Korean Family Reunions

Yonhap News (“TWO KOREAS SET TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF FAMILY REUNION CENTER”, 2005-08-30) reported that ROK and DPRK will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a 13-story building at Mount Geumgang on the DPRK’s east coast officials said on Tuesday. “It is expected to take about 20 months to complete the construction work,” an official at the Unification Ministry said. If the plan goes well, hundreds of thousands of separated families will have a permanent base for reunions and letter exchanges with their long-lost relatives starting from April 2007.

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9. DPRK Airline Blacklisted in France

Agence France Presse (“FRANCE ANNOUNCES BAN ON NORTH KOREA’S NATIONAL AIRLINE “, 2005-08-30) reported that in an effort to strengthen safety, France’s civil aviation authority has put the DPRK’s Air Koryo on its blacklist of airlines prohibited from operating in France, which was released on August 29. AFP added that Air Koryo has been suspended from operating in France since April of 2001 and that this fact was only made public now.

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10. DPRK Festival

The Chosun Ilbo (“N. KOREANS FLOCK TO PYONGYANG FOR MASS FESTIVAL”, 2005-08-30) reported that DPRK are flocking to Pyongyang for a massive festival marking Korea’s Aug. 15 Liberation Day and the 60th anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea. Every day, tens of thousands are taking buses, trains, subways and even walking to the Rungnado May First Stadium.

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11. World Weapons Sales

The New York Times (“WEAPONS SALES WORLDWIDE RISE TO HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 2000”, 2005-08-30) reported that the value of military weapons sales worldwide jumped in 2004 to the highest level since 2000, driven by arms deals with developing nations, especially India, Saudi Arabia and the PRC, according to a new Congressional study. The US once again dominated global weapons sales, signing deals worth $12.4 billion in 2004, or 33.5 percent of all contracts worldwide. Russia was second in global arms sales, with $6.1 billion in agreements, or 16.5 percent of all such contracts. Over the last four years, the PRC has purchased more weapons than any other nation in the developing world, signing $10.4 billion in deals from 2001 to 2004.

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12. Japan Energy Supply

Kyodo News (“JAPAN CAN WITHSTAND CRUDE OIL PRICE OF $100 PER BARREL: THINK TANK”, 2005-08-30) reported that Japan has realized an energy-saving economic structure that can remain stable even if crude oil prices soar to $100 per barrel, a leading economic think tank said Tuesday. The Daiwa Institute of Research came up with the estimate on an assumption that Japan’s real gross domestic product will contract only 0.1 percent for every $10 rise in crude oil prices per barrel.

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13. Sino-Japanese East Sea Gas Dispute

Kyodo (“E. CHINA SEA GAS PRODUCTION COULD BEGIN IN MID-SEPT.: CNOOC”, 2005-08-30) reported that the head of the China National Offshore Oil Corp. said Tuesday that natural gas production could begin in mid-September at the 1,225-square-kilometer Chunxiao field, which is close to a median line declared by Japan to set off its exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea. Fu stressed the PRC’s sovereignty over the gas field and said Japan’s territorial claims in disputed areas of the East China Sea are unfounded.

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14. Russia on UNSC Expansion

RIA Novosti (“RUSSIA WILL SUPPORT GERMANY FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL IF MAJORITY SUPPORTS REFORM — PUTIN”, 2005-08-30) reported that Russia will support Germany’s candidature for a place on the UN Security Council if a majority of UN member states supports the proposed reform plan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in the Black Sea resort of Sochi Monday “We do not have any problems with admitting Japan, Germany, India or Brazil as permanent [UN Security Council] members,” Putin added.

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15. PRC WWII Anniversary Commemoration

Reuters (“CHINA SAYS WW2 VICTORY CELEBRATIONS NOT ANTI-JAPAN “, 2005-08-30) reported that the PRC marks the 60th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War Two with receptions, speeches and commemorations this week, but said on Tuesday it was not trying to whip up anti-Japanese sentiment. Chen Haosu, president of the state-financed Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, dismissed suggestions that the commemorations were aimed at diverting attention from the PRC’s domestic problems, including an increasing number of protests over land and environmental disputes and a widening wealth gap.

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16. Sino-US Relations

Agence France Presse (“TRADE AND ENERGY TO TOP HU’S AGENDA IN THE UNITED STATES”, 2005-08-30) reported that bilateral trade and energy issues will likely top the agenda of upcoming talks in Washington between PRC President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush, officials said. During his stay Hu would try to address long-standing problems in the relationship and underscore the PRC’s “peaceful rise” as a global power, He said. But trade and energy would be the main focus.

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17. Hong Kong Leadership Visit to the PRC

The New York Times (“CHINA EXTENDS INVITATION TO HONG KONG’S LEGISLATURE”, 2005-08-30) reported that the Beijing-backed chief executive of Hong Kong invited the territory’s entire legislature to come with him to southern PRC next month, in what would be the largest visit of pro-democracy politicians from here that the Communist leadership in Beijing has ever allowed. The decision to let democracy advocates into the PRC again comes after years of quiet US pressure, and eight days before President Hu Jintao is scheduled to meet President Bush in Washington.

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18. PRC Human Rights

The New York Times (“BEIJING POLICE RAID RIGHTS GROUP OFFICE”, 2005-08-30) reported that the PRC police raided the office of an American-financed human rights group here on Monday shortly before the arrival of the UN human rights chief, as the authorities sought to keep a tight lid on dissent during the visit. The police searched the offices and copied computer files at the Empowerment and Rights Institute, a leading legal and human rights advisory group, employees and visitors to the offices said.

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19. PRC Satellite Launch

Agence France Presse (“CHINA LAUNCHES NEW SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SATELLITE”, 2005-08-30) reported that the PRC launched a scientific and technical satellite from a remote northwestern desert region in its latest bid to become one of the world’s major space powers, state media reported. The satellite was fired from the Jiuquan Satellite launch center in Gansu province Monday afternoon, said Xinhua news agency.

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