NAPSNET Week in Review 15 September, 2000

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"NAPSNET Week in Review 15 September, 2000", NAPSNet Weekly Report, September 15, 2000, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/napsnet-week-in-review-15-september-2000/

Korean Peninsula


1. DPRK Visits to ROK

The trip to Seoul by the DPRK Workers’ Party secretary Kim Yong-sun, has helped revive the momentum for the implementation of the June 15 inter-Korean summit agreement. The trip of four-star general Pak Jae-gyong, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the DPRK’s Korean People’s Army, prompted speculation that senior military officers from the two Koreas might hold dialogue to discuss tension reduction on the peninsula. However Pak returned to Pyongyang Monday after attending a ceremony.
“DPRK Visit to ROK” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
“DPRK Visit to ROK” (Daily Report, September 12, US)
“DPRK Envoy’s Visit to ROK” (Daily Report, September 12, PRC)

According to a high-ranking ROK government official, DPRK leader Kim Jong-il could make an official visit to the ROK as early as next spring. ROK President Kim Dae-jung told Japan’s Asahi newspaper that he was almost certain that the visit will take place in March or April. The agreement was reached by Kim Yong-sun, a visiting envoy of the DPRK leader, and his ROK counterpart, Lim Dong Won. US State Department Office of the Spokesman released a statement which welcomed the announcement of DPRK leader Kim Jong-il’s agreement to visit the ROK. The statement said, “The Department of State warmly welcomes this development. Inter-Korean dialogue is central to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
“Kim Jong-il’s ROK Visit” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
“DPRK Leader’s Visit to the ROK” (Daily Report, September 15, US)
“Kim Jong-il’s ROK Visit” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)


2. DPRK-ROK Diplomacy

Yonhap also said the two Koreas are expected to hold a first-ever meeting of defense ministers to discuss measures to ease tensions and a new round of Red Cross talks will take place as early as September 18 to discuss more reunions of separated Korean families. Experts predicted that the talks would deal with the establishment of military hot lines, prior notification of military drills, troop movements, and military exchanges. Also expected to be on the agenda are the regular staging of defense ministers’ talks and other action plans for the implementation of the Basic Agreement reached by the two Koreas in 1992.
“Kim Jong-il Visit to the ROK” (Daily Report, September 13, US)
“Inter-Korean Defense Minister Talks” (Daily Report, September 15, US)
“ROK-DPRK Defense Ministers’ Talks” (Daily Report, September 15, ROK)

ROK officials said that the ROK and the DPRK will open economic talks on September 25 to negotiate bilateral pacts aimed at facilitating trade, investment and commercial ties between the two sides. The officials said negotiations will take place at the vice ministerial level.
“ROK-DPRK Defense Ministers’ Talks” (Daily Report, September 15, ROK)

A high-ranking ROK military official said on Saturday that negotiations are under way with the United Nations Command (UNC) on the joint control and management of areas in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where the planned inter-Korean railway and highway projects would be carried out. Work on de-mining the DMZ is reportedly underway.
“DMZ Control Talks” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
“Joint Control of DMZ” (Daily Report, September 12, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Border to Be De-Mined” (Daily Report, September 13, Russia)

ROK President Kim Dae-jung has mapped out a two-plus-two formula to establish a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. The plan calls for the ROK and the DPRK to first reach an agreement and for the US and the PRC to endorse it later. Park Che-gyu, ROK Reunification Minister, said at a conference on security and trade in North Asia, “A peaceful reunification will take place maybe in 30 years, maybe in 40 years, but it won’t take place soon. Presently we must build up economic cooperation.”
“ROK Policy toward Unification” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Border to Be De-Mined” (Daily Report, September 13, Russia)


3. ROK at UN Millennium Summit

ROK President Kim Dae-jung’s visit to the US during the UN Millennium Summit, he met privately with US President Bill Clinton, answered questions from US Democratic and Republican experts who are advising the two presidential candidates on Asia, and delivered a speech at a Korea Society event. Kim said that he had spoken to Clinton in their meeting this week about the possibility of a satellites-for-missiles deal.
“ROK View of US Policy” (Daily Report, September 12, US)


4. DPRK at UN

The ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) reported that DPRK Foreign Minister Baek Nam-soon had cancelled his trip to attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and both a scheduled meeting with his ROK counterpart and a trip to Sweden were postponed.
“DPRK Cancellation of UN Visit” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)
“DPRK Visit to UN” (Daily Report, September 12, US)


5. US Forces Korea

ROK President Kim Dae-jung said, “I obtained a certain agreement from DPRK leader Kim Jong-il on the US continued military presence even after the unification of North and South Korea. Furthermore, improved relations between the North and the South should also lead to improved relations between Japan and the DPRK and between the US and the DPRK.”
“DPRK View on US Troops in ROK” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)

ROK President Kim Dae-jung said that he wants the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) governing US troops in the ROK to be revised quickly and reasonably. Kim said that the SOFA issue, the reported killing of Korean civilians by US troops during the Korean War, and the US military’s recent release of toxic chemicals into a Seoul river would increasingly undermine the friendship of the two nations.
“US Troops in ROK” (Daily Report, September 12, US)

Conceding that it “clearly” violated US and ROK environmental laws, US Forces Korea (USFK) said it would punish two US civilian employees involved in the illegal dumping of toxic chemicals into a sewer that leads to the Han River.
“USFK Chemical Dumping” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)

A US-DPRK team working about 60 miles north of Pyongyang recovered what is believed to be the remains of nine US soldiers missing in action in the Korean War. The remains were returned to the US military on Friday.
“US-DPRK Recovery of War Remains” (Daily Report, September 15, US)


6. DPRK Famine

A top ROK official said that the government will import grain from Southeast Asia to provide grain loans for the DPRK to help ease food shortages. ROK Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu said that at the second inter-Korean ministerial talks last month, the DPRK asked for a million tons of food in loan.
“Aid to DPRK” (Daily Report, September 14, ROK)

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa announced that Japanese planned rice aid to the DPRK would not exceed the amount requested by the World Food Planning (WFP).
“Japanese Rice Aid to DPRK” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)


China


1. PRC Military

The Chinese armed forces held a modernized version of its “three attacks and three defenses” exercise in an effort to improve their ability to fight future high-tech wars, focusing on defense against nuclear, chemical and biological attacks.
“PRC Changes Strategy” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)

A recent report written by Al Santoli, a national security aide to US Representative Dana Rohrabacher, said that the PRC is increasing its capacity for joint air, land, and sea operations while developing a computer warfare capacity and hardening its communications against monitoring. The report called for increasing cooperation between the US and Taiwanese militaries, and for expanding intelligence sharing with Taiwan.
“PRC Military Capabilities” (Daily Report, September 12, US)


2. Cross-Strait Relations

PRC President Jiang Zemin, speaking during meetings with Cuban President Fidel Castro, Jordanian King Abdullah II Bin Hussein, and Ukrainian President Leonid D. Kuchma at the UN Millennium Summit, reiterated the PRC’s belief that reunification cannot be stopped by anybody. Jiang said that the PRC Central Government has “the greatest sincerity” in its attempts to reach peaceful reunification. The PRC reiterated its stance that Taiwan should join the World Trade Organization (WTO) only as a separate customs territory of the PRC. Zhang Mingqing from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council criticized Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, saying that his performance in the 100 days since he took up his position has exposed his true pro-independence stand.
“Cross-Straits Relations” (Daily Report, September 12, PRC)

Taiwan Premier Tang Fei urged the PRC on Friday to seize the island’s goodwill and resume reconciliation talks and establish military confidence-building mechanisms to avoid conflict.
“Cross-Strait Relations” (Daily Report, September 15, US)


3. PRC at UN Millennium Summit

At a summit of the fifteen member states of the UN Security Council (UNSC), PRC President Jiang Zemin said that it has become a “pressing task” to enable the UN to effectively maintain international peace and security and create a favorable environment for the development of all countries currently facing unprecedented challenges and complex problems. He warned that the willful use of force and interference in the internal affairs of other countries in the name of “humanitarianism” not only runs counter to the principles of the UN Charter, but also will lead to severe consequences.
“PRC’s View of UNSC” (Daily Report, September 12, PRC)


4. US MIA Soldiers

Robert Jones, US deputy assistant secretary of defense, said that the PRC has taken a big step forward in helping the US find US soldiers missing in action (MIA) and prisoners of war (POW) of the Korean War by allowing officials to interview Chinese who ran POW camps in the DPRK. Robert L. Jones, the US Defense Department official in charge of the search, said about 2,300 US soldiers were captured by DPRK soldiers and then disappeared.
“PRC Help to find Missing Korean POWs” (Daily Report, September 13, US)
“Search for Missing Korean POWs” (Daily Report, September 15, US)


5. PRC-Russia Relations

The official visit to Moscow of Li Peng, Chairman of the All-China Assembly of People’s Representatives, began with “carbon-copy” meetings in the RF Council of Federation, the RF Parliament’s upper chamber, and the RF State Duma. Li suggested establishing direct economic ties between the PRC and the Nizhniy Novgorod Region of RF.
“RF-PRC Parliamentary Contacts” (Daily Report, September 13, Russia)


6. PRC Perspective on Korea Summit

Contemporary Asia-Pacific Studies published an article on the implications of the inter-Korean summit. The writer said that the first Summit is the product of the need on both sides to adjust themselves to the changing international strategic patterns, though there are still many problems waiting to be solved to achieve real reconciliation, cooperation and peaceful unification.

“PRC View of DPRK-ROK Relations” (Daily Report, September 12, PRC)


Japan


1. Japan-US Defense Relations

Japanese Defense Agency Director General Kazuo Torashima and US Secretary of Defense William Cohen agreed to set up a regular consultative body to improve mutual defense capabilities, especially given the upcoming Japanese mid-term defense planning for 2001 and US quadrennial defense review. The foreign and defense ministers of the US and Japan agreed to promote interoperability between their armed forces and also agreed to use the proposed strategic framework to deal with disaster relief operations and biological weapons.
“US-Japan Defense Relations” (Daily Report, September 14, US)
“Japanese-US Defense Talks” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)

The foreign and defense ministers of the US and Japan said that their countries would continue to gird their defenses to guard against possible threats from the DPRK. They also expressed their concern about the DPRK’s missile development
“US-Japan-ROK Policy Coordination” (Daily Report, September 12, US)
“Japanese-US Talks on DPRK Missile” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)

US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono signed an agreement extending for five years Japan’s financial support for US troops based in Japan. According to the agreement, Japan will directly contribute US$1.5 billion; Japan also provides about US$3 billion more indirectly through tax benefits and the construction of troop facilities.
“US Troops in Japan” (Daily Report, September 12, US)


2. PRC Ship Incursions in Japan

After Japan and the PRC came to an agreement regarding prior notice when PRC research vessels were to enter Japanese waters, the Japanese government said it called in the PRC ambassador to Japan, Chen Jian, to complain that the PRC research vessel Haijian 49 was spotted within Japan’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and remained for three days.
“PRC Ship Incursions in Japan” (Daily Report, September 12, US)


3. Japan-Russia Relations

The Russian daily Izvestia reported that there were rumors circulating in Japan which suggested that during the recent talks with RF President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Premier Yoshiro Mori reportedly agreed to leave Shikotan and Habomai under RF governance, if RF recognized Japanese sovereignty over them. Foreign ministries of both RF and Japan denied the reports.
“RF-Japanese Summit’s Aftereffects” (Daily Report, September 13, Russia)

The PRC’s China Daily reported that Russia and Japan agreed to keep trying to resolve their territorial dispute, but hopes of signing a peace treaty this year are gone.
“Japan-Russian Relations” (Daily Report, September 12, PRC)

Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov met at the Russian governmental representative office in New York and exchanged views on the recent spy issue in which a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force official was arrested for providing sensitive defense information to a Russian attache in Tokyo.
“Japanese-Russian Spy Issue” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)


4. UN Security Council Permanent Seat

Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono pressed Japan’s case for a permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by outlining Japan’s global diplomacy at the UN Millennium General Assembly.
“Japanese Bid for UNSC Seat” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)


Russia


1. Russian Military Reform

The Russian Security Council decided that their Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) will remain an independent service of the Russian armed forces up to 2006. The AVN Military News Agency reported that last month’s Kursk submarine disaster prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to speed reform of the military and Russia will cut its armed forces by 400,000 men in the next three years and begin a major restructuring of its Soviet-era command structure. The Strategic Rocket Forces would be brought under the General Staff’s command, ending its autonomy and downgrading its importance. According to authoritative sources in the military, among the 350,000 people, 180,000 are from the Army, over 50,000 from the Navy and 40,000 from the air force.
“Russian Rocket Forces” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)
“Russia’s Military Reductions” (Daily Report, September 12, PRC)


2. Russian Submarine Accident

Former Russian naval officers made numerous statements regarding the cause of the Kursk submarine accident. The link below provides coverage of their individual statements.
“Russian Submarine Accident” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)


Missile Issues


1. Responses to US NMD Decision

The following links contain background stories, analyses, and commentaries related to President Clinton’s announcement that he would not approve the deployment of a National Missile Defense system at this time.

US responses to NMD Decision:
“Decision to Delay NMD Deployment” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)
“Analysis and opinions of the NMD Decision” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)

Non-US responses to NMD Decision:
“Russian Perspective on NMD Decision” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)
“PRC Opposition to US NMD” (Daily Report, September 14, US)
“Russian-PRC Relations” (Daily Report, September 13, US)
“PRC-Russian Relations” (Daily Report, September 12, US)
“Japanese Stance on US NMD” (Daily Report, September 15, Japan)


2. Arms Control Talks

US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott said that formal negotiations on START III would have to wait until Russia agrees to enter into “formal negotiations” on missile defense systems. The Russian-US strategic stability group was scheduled to meet during the UN Millennium Summit. Planned discussions included, strategic stability, arms reductions, anti-ballistic missile issues, and non-proliferation regimes.
“US-Russia Arms Control” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)

US Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation Robert Einhorn and Darryl Johnson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, are to hold talks in Beijing as part of continuing US efforts to stem the export of PRC missile technology.
“US-PRC Missile Talks” (Daily Report, September 12, US)


Nuclear Issues


1. Russia Plutonium Disposition

US Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov signed an agreement to destroy a total of 68 tons of excess weapons-grade plutonium. The Washington-based Nuclear Control Institute criticized an agreement by the US and Russia to recycle plutonium from nuclear weapons as fuel for electricity and said burying used plutonium would be a better option.
“Russia Plutonium Disposition” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)


2. UK Submarine Accident

Over 1,500 people protested against the presence of the British nuclear submarine HMS Tireless in Gibraltar. Repairs were planned to have started on the damaged reactor on August 21 but have been delayed following local protests.
“UK Submarine Accident” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 30)


South Asia


1. India-US Relations

In talks this week, US President Clinton and Indian Prime Minister AB Vajpayee are expected to discuss extremist forces in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kashmir. This is a broadening of dialogue that has previously focused on nuclear proliferation, India-Pakistan relations, and the Kashmir dispute. Sonika Gupta, in an article published by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (New Delhi), noted that it is a problem that US policies are institutionalized to the extent that the interests and participation of non-western states are excluded.
“India-US Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #34)


2. 1965 India-Pakistan War

The Times of India published extensive coverage of the 1965 India-Pakistan War after obtaining a copy of the Indian government’s previously suppressed official history of the war.
“1965 Indo-Pakistan War” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #34)

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