Korean Peninsula
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1. US-DPRK Talks
The US State Department said on August 10 that the two days of US-DPRK talks on removing the DPRK from the list of terrorist-sponsoring states were “productive.” The delegations were led by US State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism Michael Sheehan and DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye-gwan.
“US-DPRK Talks” (Daily Report, August 11, US)
“DPRK-US Talks (Daily Report, August 9, ROK)
“US-DPRK Talks” (Daily Report, August 8, US) |
2. US Troops in ROK
Analysts said on August 9 that after talks in Pyongyang in June with ROK President Kim Dae-jung, DPRK leader Kim Jong-il has reportedly opened the way to having at least some US troops stay in Korea even after reunification.
“US Troops in ROK” (Daily Report, August 8, US)
“DPRK on USFK Presence” (Daily Report, August 8, ROK) |
3. US Statement on Korean Summit
On August 6, the ROK and the DRPK agreed in principle to launch joint diplomatic maneuvers to induce leaders of UN member countries to issue a special statement supportive of the June inter-Korean summit at the UN Millennium Summit.
“UN Statement on Inter-Korean Summit” (Daily Report, August 7, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Relations” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC) |
4. Reunion of Separated Families
DPRK observers noted that many of the DPRK citizens selected for family reunions appear to have been chosen for political reasons. The family members will have a two-hour group meeting at their respective orientation halls August 15, which will be followed by individual meetings at each visiting family member’s accommodations August 16-17. The reuniting families will be accompanied by 31 Red Cross officials and 20 journalists when they travel to the other side.
“Reunion of Separated Families” (Daily Report, August 11, ROK)
“Reunion of Separated Families” (Daily Report, August 10, ROK)
“Reunion of Separated Families” (Daily Report, August 9, ROK)
“Exchange of Separated Families” (Daily Report, August 8, ROK) |
5. ROK-DPRK Liaison Offices
ROK officials said that the ROK on August 8 proposed that the DPRK and the ROK begin consultations this week on reopening their liaison offices at Panmunjom for the first time in four years on August 15.
“Inter-Korean Talks” (Daily Report, August 9, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Relations” (Daily Report, August 10, ROK)
“Inter-Korean Relations” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC)
“ROK-DPRK Liaison Office” (Daily Report, August 11, ROK) |
6. Inter-Korean Railway
DPRK Leader Kim Jong-il has asked Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori for cooperation in projects to improve railway networks on the Korean Peninsula, including a railway link between the two Koreas. The ROK Defense Ministry is considering launching an army task force composed of some 1,000-2,000 soldiers to help support the proposed reconnection of the railway by removing mines within the Demilitarized Zone and laying the groundwork for the railroad.
“Inter-Korean Railway Projects” (Daily Report, August 11, Japan)
“Inter-Korean Railway” (Daily Report, August 10, ROK)
“Inter-Korean Railway” (Daily Report, August 7, ROK) |
China
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1. PRC Views of Missile Defense
Editorialists warned that Australia’s support for the US national missile defense (NMD) research threatens to undermine the Australian government’s ties with the PRC at a time of increasing regional instability. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser claimed that the US national missile defense system is more directed against the PRC than against “rogue” states. Sha Zukang, Director-General of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament of PRC Foreign Ministry, said that the US is becoming the biggest destroyer of global peace and security with the development of the NMD system, and that the PRC will implement necessary measures according to the changes in the global and regional security situation.
“Effect of NMD on PRC” (NPP Flash, V.2 #27)
“PRC’s View of NMD” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC)
“Effect of Missile Defense on PRC” (Daily Report, August 10, US) |
2. US-PRC Relations
The US cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) visited the PRC port of Qingdao from August 2-5, 2000. PRC naval vessels are scheduled to visit Hawaii and Seattle in the near future. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao, responding to the US Republican Party’s campaign platform which is critical of the PRC, said, “US presidential election politics should not be involved in Sino-US relations.”
“US-PRC Relations” (NPP Flash, V.2 #27)
“PRC-US Relations” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC) |
3. Chen Shui-bian’s US Visit
The PRC objected on Monday to a planned stop in Los Angeles this month by Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian and warned the US that allowing Chen to pass through would severely damage bilateral ties. Two US Congressmen hope to meet with Chen during his overnight layover in California on August 13. A Wenhui Daily commentary said that this is not an isolated incident, but rather a wrong step away from normal Sino-US relations.
“Taiwan President’s US Visit” (Daily Report, August 7, US)
“Taiwan President’s US Visit” (Daily Report, August 11, US)
“Chen Shui-bian’s US Visit” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC) |
4. Cross-Straits Relations
Taiwan president Chen Shui-bian on August 10 accused the PRC of hypocrisy in terms of its definition of “one China,” and reiterated Taiwan’s rejection of its demand that it embrace the principle on PRC terms. Taiwan has formed a 25-member task force to formulate a consistent policy aimed at easing tensions with the PRC.
“Cross-Straits Relations” (Daily Report, August 11, US)
“Cross-Straits Relations” (Daily Report, August 7, US)
The PRC reshuffled senior officials responsible for Taiwan, replacing Tang Shubei with Zhou Mingwei as deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS). An article published in the Hong Kong-based Bauhinia magazine argued that the attempt by Taiwan politicians to follow the “two Koreas model” is a ruse to seek independence and avert the one-China principle. The PRC spoke out against a proposal by Senegal and other countries to open discussions on Taiwan’s “participation” in the UN.
“PRC Policy toward Taiwan” (Daily Report, August 10, US)
“Cross-Straits Relations” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC) |
5. PRC Missile Threat to Taiwan
Taiwan’s defense ministry on Wednesday accused the PRC of stepping up deployment of missiles in provinces facing the island.
“PRC Missile Threat to Taiwan” (Daily Report, August 9, US) |
6. PRC Missile Sales to Pakistan
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said that the PRC increased its missile-related sales to Pakistan last year and is continuing to supply nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and missile goods to the DPRK, Libya and Iran. Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar on Thursday denied the report.
“PRC Missile Sales” (Daily Report, August 9, US)
“Alleged PRC Missile Sales” (Daily Report, August 10, US) |
Japan
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1. Japan-DPRK Talks
Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono made a statement which statement indicated that he would not make the solution of the abduction and missile issues conditions for the normalization talks with the DPRK.
“Japanese-DPRK Normalization” (Daily Report, August 11, Japan) |
2. Visit of Japanese Wives
Japan and the DPRK have agreed to a third round of homecomings by Japanese women who married DPRK Nationals from September 12-18.
“Visits by Japanese Wives of DPRK Men” (Daily Report, August 11, Japan) |
3. Japan-Russia Treaty
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said on August 9 that he would not reach any interim treaty with Russia that would postpone the solution of the territorial issue between Japan and Russia.
“Japanese-Russian Territorial Issue” (Daily Report, August 11, Japan) |
4. Japan-PRC Relations
PRC newspapers argued that Japan is using the “China threat” as an excuse to join the US Theater Missile Defense system. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori announced that he would not make an official visit to a wartime shrine out of consideration of likely protests from the PRC and the ROK.
“PRC-Japanese Relations” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC)
“Japanese Visits to War Shrine” (Daily Report, August 10, PRC)
“Japanese Official Visits to Yasukuni Shrine” (Daily Report, August 11, Japan) |
5. Japanese Defense Policy
Seventy-eight Japanese Upper House Diet members formed an association on August 8 to raise the status of the Japanese Defense Agency to a ministry before restructuring of the central governing bodies in January 2001.
“Japanese Defense Policy” (Daily Report, August 11, Japan) |
Russia
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1. Russian Nuclear Policy
Russian President Vladimir Putin fired six top generals, several of whom reportedly sided with Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev in his opposition to radically reducing the Strategic Missile Forces. Jane’s Online reported that Chief of the General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin’s position is probably supported due, in part, to a shift in Russian military doctrine in the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict.
“Russian Nuclear Policy” (NPP Flash, V.2 #27) |
South Asia
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1. Nuclear War Danger
The US Central Intelligence Agency’s National Intelligence Estimate assessed that the likelihood of an escalation to nuclear war was high during the conflict last year between India and Pakistan. The report prompted the US to shift its focus from nonproliferation to easing tensions between the two countries.
“Likelihood of Nuclear Conflict” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10) |
2. Pakistan Nuclear Exports
Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry advertised for export eleven radioactive substances and seventeen types of equipment. Analysts said that this may have been a disguised threat that if Pakistan was not provided with economic assistance, it would respond with nuclear proliferation.
“Pakistan Nuclear Exports” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10) |
3. Pakistan Nuclear Testing
Indian former Atomic Energy Commission chairperson PK Iyegnar said that Pakistan was preparing a hydrogen bomb for testing. Pakistan Muslim League leader Kulsoom Nawaz criticized the military government for putting the nuclear program in “cold storage.”
“Pakistan Nuclear Testing” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10) |
4. Kashmir Conflict
The militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for attacks in six locations in Jammu and Kashmir in which more than 100 were killed in twelve hours. Militant groups other than the Hizbul Mujahideen promised to intensify actions against the Indian government. The Hizbul rescinded its ceasefire offer on August 8 because India refused to allow Pakistan to participate in peace talks.
“Hizbul Ceasefire Dialogue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10)
“Breakdown of Hizbul Ceasefire Dialogue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10)
“Responses to the Ceasefire: Kashmiri Groups” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10)
“Responses to the Ceasefire: India, Pakistan” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10)
“Responses to the Ceasefire: Editorials” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10)
“Massacre in Jammu and Kashmir” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1 #30: Aug 10) |
Missile Issues
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1. US Missile Defense Decision
US Defense Secretary William S. Cohen on Monday postponed for at least a month his recommendation to President Bill Clinton on whether to proceed with a limited national missile defense. The draft of the Democratic Party platform has eliminated an endorsement of development of a system.
“US Missile Defense” (Daily Report, August 8, US)
“NMD Deployment Decision” (NPP Flash, V.2 #27) |
2. Australian Participation in NMD
Australian newspapers said that US intelligence officials have won a secret battle to keep Australians from learning basic information about the purpose of the Joint Defence Facility at Pine Gap. Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer distanced himself from comments made by US Defense Secretary William Cohen portraying Australia as supporting U.S. plans to build a missile defense system.
“Australian Involvement in US NMD” (NPP Flash, V.2 #27) |
3. European Participation in NMD
The European Union has been unable to arrive at a common position on the US proposed National Missile Defense (NMD) and is unlikely to adopt a position on NMD installations on the European continent because Britain, Denmark, and Norway are involved in the project.
“European Views of TMD” (NPP Flash, V.2 #27)
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