Korean Peninsula
|
1. ROK-DPRK Summit
The ROK announced that it had reached an agreement for President Kim Dae-jung to visit Pyongyang June 12-14 to hold summit talks with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il.
“Preparations for ROK-DPRK Summit” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“DPRK-ROK Summit” (Daily Report, April 12, PRC)
“ROK-DPRK Summit” (Daily Report, April 11, US)
“ROK-DPRK Summit” (Daily Report, April 11, ROK)
“ROK Summit Preparations” (Daily Report, April 11, ROK)
“ROK-DPRK Summit” (Daily Report, April 10, US)
“DPRK-ROK Preparatory Talks” (Daily Report, April 14, ROK)
While most US, ROK, Japan, and PRC officials hailed the upcoming summit as a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations, several commentators reacted skeptically. Many saw the timing of the announcement just prior to the ROK National Assembly elections as an attempt by the DPRK to help the ROK ruling party in the elections in the hopes of maximizing gains from the negotiations. Some commentators also questioned the possible cost of aiding the DPRK.
“ROK-DPRK Summit Talks” (Daily Report, April 14, US)
“Discussion” (Daily Report, April 13)
“DPRK on Inter-Korean Summit” (Daily Report, April 14, ROK)
“DPRK Views of Summit” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“ROK Views of Summit” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“US View of ROK-DPRK Summit” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“US View of ROK-DPRK Summit ” (Daily Report, April 11, US)
“Japanese Reaction to ROK-DPRK Talks” (Daily Report, April 14, Japan)
“PRC View on DPRK-ROK Summit”
“ROK Views of Inter-Korean Summit” (Daily Report, April 10, US)
“US Views of Inter-Korean Summit” (Daily Report, April 10, US) “Pyongyang Watch: Clothing the Emperor” (Special Report, April 11)
“Historical Korean Meeting Underscores Troubles in Pyongyang” (Stratfor) |
2. ROK Election
Despite the summit announcement, the main opposition Grand National Party won the most seats in Thursday’s election for the National Assembly.
“ROK Election” (Daily Report, April 14, US)
“ROK Election” (Daily Report, April 13, US)
“ROK Election” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“ROK Elections” (Daily Report, April 11, US)
“ROK Election” (Daily Report, April 11, ROK)
“Japanese Reaction to ROK Election” (Daily Report, April 14, Japan) |
3. DPRK Energy
A new Nautilus study published by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation discusses the effect of the DPRK energy crisis on agricultural production, and suggests humanitarian projects to deal with the problem.
“Fuel and Famine” (IGCC Policy Paper)
“Dealing with North Korea’s Energy Problems” (Special Report)
“DPRK Energy” (Daily Report, US, April 10) |
4. US-DPRK Relations
US Coordinator for Counterterrorism Michael Sheehan said that the DPRK is likely to be removed from the State Department list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
“US Sanctions against DPRK” (Daily Report, April 13) |
5. ROK-DPRK Relations
ROK President Kim Dae-jung announced that he would offer a substantial aid package to the DPRK to help it rebuild its economy. ROK newspapers also reported that the ROK and the DPRK will likely open liaison offices in each others country as a result of the summit talks.
“ROK Aid to DPRK” (Daily Report, April 11, US)
“DPRK-ROK Economic Cooperation” (Daily Report, April 11, ROK)
“ROK Aid to DPRK” (Daily Report, April 11, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Economic Cooperation” (Daily Report, April 10, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Liaison Office” (Daily Report, April 14, ROK) |
6. Japanese Analysis of DPRK
The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its year 2000 Diplomatic Blue Book, which said that despite difficulties, the Kim Jong-il regime retains a firm grip on power.
“Japanese Analysis of DPRK Regime” (Daily Report, April 14, ROK)
“Japanese Analysis of DPRK Regime” (Daily Report, April 14, Japan) |
7. DPRK Participation in ARF
The Philippines said that the DPRK has expressed interest in attending the next meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
“DPRK Participation in ARF” (Daily Report, April 10, US) |
Taiwan Straits
|
8. US Arms Sales to Taiwan
The Washington Post reported that the Clinton administration is facing an inter-agency split over whether or not to proceed with the sales of Aegis destroyers to Taiwan.
“US Arms Sales to Taiwan” (Daily Report, April 14, US) |
9. Cross-Straits Relations
Taiwan Vice President-elect Annette Lu warned that the PRC may take some “irrational” act in response to the Taiwan presidential inauguration, while President-elect Chen Shui-bian promised that he would not seek independence for the island. The PRC objected to a proposed visit to Taiwan by the Dalai Lama.
“Cross-Straits Relations” (Daily Report, April 14, US)
“PRC Policy toward Taiwan” (Daily Report, April 10, US)
“The Taiwan Issue” (Daily Report, April 12, PRC)
“India-China Relations” (South Asia Nuclear Dialogue) |
People’s Republic of China
|
10. US-PRC Proliferation Disputes
The Washington Times alleged that the PRC has been selling missile parts to Libya, which PRC officials denied. The US warned that Israeli arms sales to the PRC could damage ties. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said that the PRC was ready to resume talks with the US on PRC weapons sales. The PRC also denied allegations it had received heavy technical assistance on its rockets from Lockheed Martin Corporation.
“Alleged PRC Missile Sales to Libya” (Daily Report, April 14, US)
“PRC Missile Sales to Libya” (Daily Report, April 14, US)
“US-PRC Proliferation Talks” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“Israel Arms Sales to PRC” (Daily Report, April 12, US)
“Israeli Arms Sales to PRC” (Daily Report, April 10, US)
“Alleged Technology Transfers to PRC” (Daily Report, April 12, PRC)
“Alleged Technology Transfers to PRC” (Daily Report, April 10, US) |
11. PRC View of Missile Defense
Shen Dingli of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University argued that US missile defense is really aimed at the PRC, not at so-called “rogue” states.
“PRC View of US Missile Defense” (Daily Report, US, April 12)
“Chinese View on NMD” (Daily Report, PRC, April 12) |
12. Bombing of PRC Embassy
The US disciplined several Central Intelligence Agency officials that it deemed responsible for the bombing of the PRC Embassy in Belgrade. The PRC, however, refused to accept the US explanation for the incident.
“Bombing of PRC Embassy” (Daily Report, April 12, PRC)
“Bombing of PRC Embassy in Belgrade” (Daily Report, April 10, US) |
13. PRC-Russian Relations
Itar-Tass reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting some time in May.
“PRC-Russian Talks” (Daily Report, April 14, US) |
Japan
|
14. US Nuclear Weapons in Japan
Japanese Communist Party Chairman Tetsuzo Fuwa said that he had obtained a document showing that the US and Japan had reached a secret agreement to allow the US to introduce nuclear weapons into Japan.
“US Nuclear Weapons in Japan” (Daily Report, April 14, Japan)
“Japan FOIA Documents” (Nuclear Policy Project) |
15. Japanese Military Role
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshio Mori outlined his ideas for an increased Japanese military role in his inaugural speech to the Diet.
“Japanese Military Role” |
16. Japanese-Russian Relations
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshio Mori and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold informal summit talks on April 29 in St. Petersburg.
“Japanese-Russian Relations” (Daily Report, April 14, Japan) |
Russia
|
17. START II Ratification
Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to push the Diet to ratify the START II nuclear treaty, but many Diet members said that they could not ratify the treaty due to fears of US missile defense plans.
“START II Ratification” (Daily Report, April 14, US)
“START II Ratification” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 13) |
18. ABM Treaty
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that US attempts to revise the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty risked causing Cold War-like tensions.
“Russian View on ABM Treaty” (Daily Report, April 12, PRC)
“ABM Treaty” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 13)
(return to top) |
