NAPSNet Daily Report Wednesday, September 12, 2007

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NAPSNet Daily Report Wednesday, September 12, 2007

NAPSNet Daily Report Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I. NAPSNet

Preceding NAPSNet Report

I. NAPSNet

1. DPRK Nuclear Program

Reuters (“US TOURS N. KOREAN REACTOR AND GETS ALL ACCESS SOUGHT”, 2007-09-12) reported that US officials and nuclear experts toured the five megawatt nuclear reactor at the DPRK’s Yongbyon atomic complex and were allowed to see everything they wished, the State Department said. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the team was expected to return to Yongbyon on Thursday and to meet DPRK officials in Pyongyang on Friday to discuss how to disable the reactor before returning to the US.

(return to top) Yonhap (“U.S. STILL TESTING N. KOREA’S WILL TO DENUCLEARIZE: EX-WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL”, 2007-09-12) reported that the US will only normalize relations and sign a peace treaty with the DPRK to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War if the DPRK abandons its nuclear weapons ambitions, a former White House official said. The remark by Victor D. Cha, ex-director for Asian Affairs at the US National Security Council, is in line with a comment last week by US President George W. Bush that Washington will pursue a peace treaty with Pyongyang after the DPRK verifiably gets rid of its nuclear weapons and related programs. Washington should not establish diplomatic ties and sign a peace treaty with Pyongyang while nuclear weapons remain in the reclusive country, said Cha. (return to top)

2. DPRK-US Summit

Reuters (“BUSH-KIM JONG-IL SUMMIT POSSIBLE NEXT YEAR: ENVOY”, 2007-09-12) reported that the removal of all nuclear weapons from the DPRK next year could pave the way for a summit meeting between US President George W. Bush and DPRK leader, Kim Jong-il, a US envoy said. But US Ambassador to the ROK Alexander Vershbow said it would be a mistake for the DPRK to still expect international aid and an improvement in its diplomatic standing if it only takes half measures to end its nuclear program. “I think that it (a summit) might be possible before the end of President Bush’s term if North Korea makes the right decisions and is ready to go all the way, not just disablement but full denuclearization,” Vershbow told a security forum.

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3. Inter-Korean Economic Relations

IFES NK Brief (“ROK GOODS NOW HOT SELLERS IN DPRK MARKETS”, 2007-09-09) reported that ROK wares have become very popular with DPRK residents, and they are being openly sold in DPRK markets. According to a source inside the DPRK, ROK goods with the ‘Made in Korea’ label are highly popular among those more wealthy shoppers in markets in Pyongyang, Shinuiju, Hamheung, Chunjin, and other large cities. However, these days, ROK goods must be labeled ‘Made in Korea’ to be recognized as having come from the ROK, and therefore can be sold for high prices.

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4. ROK Role in Iraq

Korea Times (“ROH, BUSH TALK OVER IRAQ TROOPS”, 2007-09-12) reported that the US government’s new policy toward Iraq will bear successful fruit, President Roh Moo-hyun told President George W. Bush via telephone. Roh had about 15-minute phone talk from 8:20 p.m. (KST) at the request of Bush, who is to announce his plan to withdraw 30,000 U.S. troops among 160,000 in Iraq by next summer. Roh said he will seek ways to cooperate with the US through consultations with the National Assembly as the troops’ mission expires at the end of the year.

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5. ROK Defense

Chosun Ilbo (“RUSSIA TO REPAY KOREA IN MILITARY HARDWARE”, 2007-09-12) reported that Russia will repay part of its outstanding debt to the ROK in defense products rather than cash. The ROK gave a loan to Russia in the 1990s under an economic cooperation accord of which some US$1.29 billion remain unpaid. The ROK, in a working-level military technology cooperation meeting in Moscow, agreed with Russia to receive the remaining repayments half in cash and half in kind. The non-cash repayments include military technology and finished defense products.

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6. Japan Government

The Associated Press (“JAPAN PM STEPS DOWN AFTER STRING OF SCANDALS”, 2007-09-12) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned after less than a year in power, falling victim to a string of scandals that hampered his reform agenda and sent his popularity plummeting. But a series of gaffes and scandals cost his ruling party control of the upper house of parliament in July, and Abe conceded that the resurgent opposition had made it impossible for him to do his job. Abe’s position had looked increasingly precarious as the newly empowered opposition refused to back his proposed reforms and an extension of a controversial mission in support of US-led forces in Afghanistan.

(return to top) Kyodo news (“ABE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION CAUSING POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY”, 2007-09-12) reported that after only a year in office, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his intention to resign to take responsibility for causing political confusion, saying it would be difficult for him to regain public trust and secure an extension of Japan’s refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. “I determined today to step down,” a visibly weary Abe said at a hastily arranged press conference. “I reshuffled the Cabinet in order to push forward with reforms but under the current situation it has become difficult for me to secure the people’s support and trust to vigorously implement policies.” (return to top)

7. Japan SDF Indian Ocean Mission

The Associated Press (“US EXPECTS SUSTAINED JAPAN SUPPORT IN AFGHANISTAN”, 2007-09-12) reported that the White House said that it would expect Japan to keep supporting US-led military operations in Afghanistan despite the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “The United States and Japan remain strong and steadfast allies and the US looks forward to continuing that relationship with Japan,” said national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe. “The Japanese have been strong supporters of the operation in Afghanistan and I expect they will continue to support that effort,” he said.

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8. Cross Strait Relations

Agence France-Presse (“TAIWAN MILITARY SHOWS STRENGTH AMID FRESH TENSION WITH CHINA”, 2007-09-12) reported that Taiwan showed off two US-made F-16 fighter jets and a fleet of warships in a show of its intent to defend itself from any attack by the PRC. The military carried out the drills — simulating a PRC invasion — as tensions with Beijing grow over Taipei’s plans to apply for United Nations membership under the name “Taiwan,” and hold a referendum on the issue.

(return to top) The Peoples Daily Online (“CHEN SHUI-BIAN MUST SHOULDER ‘ALL SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES'”, 2007-09-12) reported that a PRC spokesman warned Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian that he must shoulder “all serious consequences” if he recklessly takes dangerous moves towards “Taiwan independence”. He said Chen nakedly launched provocations to seek “Taiwan independence” prior to the Taiwan leader election to seek gains for himself and his own party, but totally irrespective of interests of the 23 million Taiwan compatriots. (return to top)

9. PRC-Australia Military Exercises

The Peoples Daily Online (“CHINESE WARSHIPS SET SAIL FOR JOINT EXERCISES WITH AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND NAVIES”, 2007-09-12) reported that two PRC warships departed from Qingdao, east PRC’s Shandong Province, to join Australia and New Zealand navies in the first maritime exercises to be staged by the three countries. The three navies will drill on communications, fleet formation, vessel supply, and search-and-rescue during the two-day drill on the sea off Sydney, Australia, said Major General Zhang Xuezeng of the North China Sea Fleet of the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

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10. PRC-India Military Exercises

PTI (“INDIA-CHINA NAVAL EXERCISE IN NOVEMBER”, 2007-09-12) reported that India will hold a joint naval exercise with the PRC for the first time in November, Defense Minister A K Antony said. Noting that such exercises with other countries would not come in the way of India’s independent foreign policy, he said a joint military exercise with Russia will be carried out next month.

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11. PRC Internet Censorship

Shanghai Daily (“CHINA DISCONNECTS 18,400 ILLEGAL WEBSITES”, 2007-09-12) reported that the PRC blocked access to 18,401 illegal Websites during a nationwide campaign against online pornography that started in April, an industry newspaper reported today. A total of 9,593 unregistered Websites were shut down while 8,808 Websites were closed for disseminating pornographic, illicit or fraudulent pictures and information on the Internet, said Miao Wei, deputy general manager of China Telecom, the country’s biggest telecommunication carrier, which was involved in the campaign.

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12. PRC Cyberattacks

Taiwan Sun (“CHINESE TRIED TO HACK AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT PCS TOO”, 2007-09-12) reported that the PRC allegedly tried to hack into highly classified government computer networks in Australia and New Zealand as part of a broader international operation to glean military secrets from Western nations. According to news.com.au, Canberra refused to either confirm or deny that its agencies, including the Defence Department, had been subject to cyber attack from the PRC. Government sources, however, acknowledged the challenge of thwarting such assaults.

(return to top) Reuters (“CHINA SAYS SUFFERS “MASSIVE” INTERNET SPY DAMAGE”, 2007-09-12) reported that the PRC has suffered “massive” losses of state secrets through the Internet, a senior official said, as the PRC faces reports that it has raided the computer networks of Western powers. Vice Minister of Information Industry Lou Qinjian said his country was the target of a campaign of computer infiltration and subversion and proposed a raft of counter-measures including toughened censorship, new security bodies and commercial controls. “The Internet has become the main technological channel for external espionage activities against our core, vital departments,” he wrote in Chinese Cadres Tribune, a magazine. (return to top)