I. United States

1. Six Party Talks

Washington Post (“N. KOREA TALKS REACH DEADLOCK OVER LIGHT-WATER REACTOR ISSUE”, 2005-09-14) reported that just-resumed negotiations on DPRK nuclear disarmament swiftly bogged down Wednesday in the same standoff that led to their suspension five weeks ago, undermining any hopes that the talks could move forward more easily after the long recess. In a bilateral meeting with US diplomats, DPRK drove home its insistence on a light-water nuclear reactor for producing electricity as part of any bargain on dismantling its nuclear weapons program, according to the chief US negotiator, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill.

(return to top) RIA Novosti (“NORTH KOREAN TALKS SEEK TO YIELD JOINT DOCUMENT”, 2005-09-13) reported that according to a Russian Foreign Ministry official, the participants in the six party talks plan to adopt a joint document following the fourth round of negotiations. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev said the sides intended to complete the fourth round fast and were “carefully optimistic” about results. He said the Russian delegation had held bilateral meetings with the PRC and DPRK delegations and that consultations with ROK, the US and Japan were scheduled for Wednesday. (return to top)

2. US on Six Party Talks

Reuters (“U.S. DISMISSES N.KOREA DEMANDS FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY”, 2005-09-14) reported that the US delegate at six party talks dismissed its demands to be allowed a civilian atomic energy program. Christopher Hill instead urged the DPRK to focus on a draft joint statement, which sets out the principle of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and contains an offer from ROK to provide conventional energy to its impoverished neighbor. “I think they should focus on what is on the table,” Hill told reporters.”One of the most important elements on the table is … a very significant conventional energy proposal, which would get for the DPRK electricity at a very early date,” he said.

(return to top) The New York Times (“NORTH KOREA DEMANDS FUNDS TO BUILD NUCLEAR REACTOR”, 2005-09-14) reported that the top US negotiator in six party talks no progress was made toward resolving a standoff after his first meeting with Pyongyang’s delegation. US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said DPRK insisted it be provided with a light-water nuclear reactor for generating power, an item not included in a draft agreement. ”I must say it was a meeting in which we did not make a lot of progress,” Hill said Wednesday evening. ”Neither the US or any other participant is prepared to fund a light-water reactor.” (return to top)

3. ROK on Six Party Talks

The Chosun Ilbo (“SEOUL URGES PYONGYANG TO COOPERATE AT SIX-PARTY “, 2005-09-14) reported that the Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Wednesday urged DPRK to cooperate so a joint statement of principles can be achieved at six party talks. He was speaking in the DPRK capital at the start of the 16th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks. The ROK’s first order of business to maintain peace on the peninsula was to request the resumption of high-level military talks between the two Koreas, including the defense ministries.

(return to top)

4. Inter-Korean Cultural Cooperation

Korean Central News Agency (“NORTH-SOUTH WOMEN’S REUNIFICATION FORUM HELD”, 2005-09-13) reported that the DPRK-ROK women’s reunification forum for implementing the June 15 joint declaration and for peace against war was held here Monday. Present at the forum were Pak Sun Hui, chairperson of the women’s subcommittee of the DPRK’s Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the DPRK, the ROK and Overseas for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration, members of the subcommittee, female workers in Pyongyang, and members of a delegation of women’s organizations in ROK led by Jong Hyon Baek, permanent representative of the Women’s Headquarters of the ROK Side’s Preparatory Committee for Joint Functions of Koreans in the ROK, the DPRK and Overseas for Implementing the June 15 Joint Declaration.

(return to top)

5. Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation

The Korea Times (“N. KOREA HINTS AT REPLACING HUNDAI AS TOUR PARTNER “, 2005-09-13) reported that DPRK has proposed that Lotte Tours participates in the joint tourism projects between the two Koreas, Lotte officials said Tuesday. The DPRK’s proposal comes amid the soured relationship with Hyundai Group, which has the exclusive rights to the ROK-DPRK cooperation projects, over Hyundai chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun’s dismissal of a key pro-DPRK official last month. The DPRK has been in discussions with Hyundai Group over the opening of Kaesong to ROK tourists, but their talks are now gridlocked due to Pyongyang’s refusal to come to the negotiating table.

(return to top)

6. DPRK-PRC Economic Cooperation

The Chosun Ilbo (“N.KOREA BOWS TO BORDER TOWN REALITIES”, 2005-09-14) reported that DPRK is building a border market in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, beside the Tumen River on the border with PRC. The town has long been an unofficial trading post for all kinds of goods from PRC, from pornography to electronics. The market will be a permanent facility freely accessible by the PRC from the other side of the border. DPRK now has about 300 markets, but the one in Hoeryong will be the first border market open to foreigners.

(return to top)

7. PRC AIDS Issue

Agence France Presse (“CHINA LOOKS TO CABBAGE IN MASSIVE CONDOM DRIVE “, 2005-09-14) reported that the once prudish PRC government is hoping to make condom use as common as eating cabbage and will distribute more than 300 million of them to help curb AIDS. The condoms will be distributed to local centers for disease control which will deliver them to hotels and public entertainment places.

(return to top)

8. PRC Energy Supply

The Associated Press (“CHINA SEEKS NEW SUPPLIES OF URANIUM”, 2005-09-14) reported that as the PRC moves to line up uranium supplies to feed its planned massive nuclear power expansion, it’s facing surprisingly little resistance and sparking a lot of interest from countries with deposits of the mineral. In the next 15 years, the PRC plans to build as many as 40 nuclear plants to supplement the nine it has now.

(return to top)

9. PRC-Venezuela Relations

Xinhua (“CHAVEZ CALLS FOR GREATER VENEZUELA-CHINA CO-OP”, 2005-09-14) reported that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that he hoped the PRC and Venezuela could further boost economic and trade cooperation to benefit their two peoples. He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of a meeting of the PRC-Venezuela mixed committee, a group aimed at consolidating and strengthening trade cooperation between the two countries.

(return to top)

10. PRC Land Dispute

Agence France Presse (“LAWYERS TOLD TO STAY OUT OF CHINA’S GUANGDONG LAND DISPUTE “, 2005-09-14) reported that government officials in the PRC’s southern Guangdong province have vowed to resolve an irksome land dispute case in accordance with the law, as they rounded up lawyers and told them to stay away from the issue. The case involves farmers in Taishi village who have gathered enough names to legally have village head Chen Jinsheng removed from power over corrupt land practices, but have been obstructed by powerful local bureaucrats.

(return to top)

11. Bush-Hu Meeting

The New York Times (“BUSH PUTS IRAQ, CHINA AND IRAN ON AGENDA”, 2005-09-14) reported that President Bush returned yesterday to dealing with festering global problems, urging President Hu Jintao of PRC to join him in trying to stop nuclear programs in Iran and the DPRK. Nuclear issues, trade and Taiwan dominated the meeting at the Waldorf. Mr. Bush’s aides also turned over to Mr. Hu a list of human rights cases that particularly concern the US, Mr. Green said.

(return to top)

12. Taiwan UN Bid

Reuters (“TAIWAN FAILS IN 13TH ANNUAL BID FOR U.N. SEAT “, 2005-09-14) reported that Taiwan failed on Wednesday for the 13th straight year to get a seat at the United Nations, a move that has been blocked annually since 1993 by the PRC and its allies.

(return to top)

13. Cross Strait Relations

Reuters (“TAIWAN’S CHEN BOUND TO ANGER CHINA WITH US STOPS”, 2005-09-14) reported that Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian will make two stopovers in the US during a trip to see Central American and Caribbean allies starting next week, his office said on Wednesday, in a move likely to infuriate the PRC. Chen will leave Taipei on September 20 for Guatemala and transit in Miami for a night, landing on US soil just days after the PRC leader.

(return to top)

14. Yasukuni Shrine Issue

Chosun Ilbo (“JAPANESE PUBLIC RAISES ISSUE OF KOISUMI’S CONTROVERSIAL VISITS TO YASUKUNI SHRINE”, 2005-09-14) reported that the Japanese public is showing greater interest in if and when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit a controversial shrine honoring the country’s war dead. The Mainichi Shimbun, a leading news daily in Japan, reported Wednesday that Japanese families of the war dead are viewing the ruling LDP’s victory in the recent general election as easing some pressure off the prime minister.

(return to top) Kyodo News (“N. KOREA DEMANDS KOIZUMI STOP VISITING YASUKUNI SHRINE”, 2005-09-14) reported that the DPRK on Wednesday demanded that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and other Japanese politicians stop visiting the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, calling it “a center for spreading the idea of militarist overseas aggression.” (return to top)

15. USFJ Base Relocation

Agence France Presse (“JAPAN, US FINALIZING OKINAWA BASE MOVE”, 2005-09-14) reported that Japan and the US are finalizing a new plan to relocate an air base on the southern island chain of Okinawa that has long been the target of local opposition, a newspaper reports. The US has already agreed to move the Futenma Air Base out of the crowded urban center of Ginowan, where residents complain it causes too much noise.

(return to top)

II. CanKor

16. Report #219

CanKor (“NORTH KOREA STANDS FAST ON NUCLEAR ENERGY USE “, 2005-09-09) Two prominent US experts brief Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice after their return from talks with DPRK officials in Pyongyang. John Lewis and Siegfried Hecker say that the DPRK will insist that the statement of principles under discussion at the six-party talks in Beijing this week acknowledges the DPRK’s right to peaceful use of nuclear power.

(return to top) CanKor (“KOREA WANTS DEVELOPMENT HELP OVER EMERGENCY FOOD AID “, 2005-09-09) The World Food Programme denies an ROK news report that the UN agency has been asked to leave the country. However it is true that the agency’s status in the country is under review, since the DPRK wishes to switch from food aid to development assistance. (return to top) CanKor FOCUS (“FACTS AND ARGUMENTS ABOUT HUMANITARIAN AID “, 2005-09-02) The ROK Ministry of Unification takes issue with a recent publication by Stephan Haggard and Marcus Noland entitled “Hunger and Human Rights: The Politics of Famine in North Korea,” published by the US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (http://www.hrnk.org/hunger/hungerReport05.pdf). In the report, the authors criticize the lack of transparency and monitoring that accompanies ROK food aid to the DPRK. In this week’s FOCUS section “Facts and arguments on humanitarian aid” we publish both the ROK critique and the letter of response by Haggard and Noland. (return to top)