Korean Peninsula
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1. US-DPRK Missile Talks
US-DPRK negotiations over the DPRK’s missile program ended in a stalemate Wednesday, with the US refusing to pay US$1 billion a year in exchange for a halt to missile technology exports and the development of weapons for self-defense.
“US-DPRK Missile Talks” (Daily Report, July 12, US) |
2. US-DPRK Relations
ROK sources said that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun may meet late this month on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum. A Korean-American journalist interviewed DPRK leader Kim Jong-il cited Kim as saying that he would soon send DPRK Workers’ Party secretary Kim Yong-sun and a senior military officer to the US.
“DPRK-US Relations” (Daily Report, July 14, ROK)
“US-DPRK Relations” (Daily Report, July 12, US) |
3. Reunion of Separated Families
The ROK Red Cross came up with a list on Friday of 200 candidates who may be reunited with their relatives in the DPRK and the DPRK will hand over its list of 200 DPRK residents on July 16. After both sides identify those whose families are dead or cannot be found, the number will be narrowed to 100 each.
“Reunions of Separated Families” (Daily Report, July 14,
“Family Reunion” (Daily Report, July 14, ROK) |
4. US-ROK Missile Talks
US and the ROK are negotiating an agreement which should be completed by the end of the year which will allow the ROK to have missiles with a range of up to 300 km, putting most of the DPRK within range.
“US-ROK Missile Talks” (Daily Report, July 14, US)
“US-ROK Missile Talks” (Daily Report, July 13, US)
“US-DPRK Missile Talks” (Daily Report, July 10, US) |
5. ROK-DPRK Relations
ROK President Kim Dae-jung has said that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il could come to Seoul as early as the end of the year. ROK officials said that they hope that the two Koreas will alternately hold high-level talks in their capital cities, starting in Seoul late this month.
“DPRK Leader’s Visit to ROK” (Daily Report, July 11, ROK)
“Inter-Korean Relations” (Daily Report, July 11, ROK) |
6. DPRK-Philippines Relations
The DPRK and the Philippines signed an agreement officially establishing diplomatic ties.
“DPRK-Philippines Relations” (Daily Report, July 12, US) |
China
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7. PRC-US Arms Control Talks
On July 8 the PRC and the US ended two days of meetings on arms control and anti-proliferation on July 7 in Beijing, during which officials described as “comprehensive, in-depth and frank.”
“PRC-US Arms Control Talks” (Daily Report, July 12, PRC)
“US-PRC Arms Control Talks” (Daily Report, July 12, US)
“PRC-US Arms Control Talks” (Daily Report, July 10, US)
“PRC Missile Sales to Pakistan” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 24)
“US-PRC Arms Control Talks (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 24) |
8. US-PRC Relations
Experts at the Washington-based Nixon Center, the California think tank Rand Corporation, and Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, released its study week which described the PRC not as a potential strategic partner, but as “America’s major potential strategic adversary in East Asia.” US defense officials said that the PRC several times turned down offers to conduct joint military exercises with US forces, including indoor “table top” simulations, to practice humanitarian relief or search and rescue operations.
“US-PRC Relations” (Daily Report, July 14, US)
“US-PRC Military Relations” (Daily Report, July 10, US) |
9. PRC View of Missile Defense
Many PRC officials worry that although the US speaks of engaging it, the US goal is to contain the PRC, as the US missile defense program demonstrates, and the PRC will not passively accept breaches in its security. PRC officials have expressed exasperation at the justification for the proposed missile defense system put forward in previous discussions with US officials.
“PRC View of Missile Defense” (Daily Report, July 14, US)
“PRC View of US Missile Defense” (Daily Report, July 13, US)
“PRC View of US Missile Defense” (Daily Report, July 12, US)
“PRC Position on Missile Defense” (Daily Report, July 12, PRC) |
10. Israeli Arms Sales to PRC
Israel announced on July 12 that it had canceled its sale of a sophisticated US$250 million airborne radar system to the PRC.
“Israeli Arms Sales to PRC” (Daily Report, July 13, US)
“Israeli Arms Sales to PRC” (Daily Report, July 12, US) |
11. Taiwan Independence
Frank Hsieh, chairman of Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said that he is open to the possibility of dropping a call for a separate state if PRC leaders promise not to attack the island.
“Taiwan Independence” (Daily Report, July 14, US) |
Japan
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12. Japan-DPRK Talks
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said on Friday that he was seeking a resumption of talks for normalization of Japan-DPRK relations and that the July 27 meeting of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum (ARF) would provide a good opportunity for discussion. They are likely to hold talks in late August, and Japan intends to send food aid to the DPRK ahead of the meeting.
“DPRK-Japan Talks” (Daily Report, July 14, US)
“Japanese-DPRK Relations” (Daily Report, July 14, Japan)
“DPRK-Japan Talks” (Daily Report, July 13, US) |
13. G8 Meeting in Japan
Experts said that the Group of Eight (G8) powers meeting in Japan from July 12-13 will likely downplay disagreements about how to deal with the DPRK’s ballistic missile program. Experts also ruled out the possibility of a G8 statement on Taiwan.
“US-Japanese Relations” (Daily Report, July 12, PRC)
“Discussion of DPRK at G8” (Daily Report, July 11, US)
“Discussion of Taiwan at G8” (Daily Report, July 11, US)
“DPRK Missile Threat at G8” (Daily Report, July 10, US) |
Missile Issues
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14. US Missile Defense
A US missile interceptor test failed when the interceptor’s kill vehicle failed to separate from the interceptor’s second stage rocket motor. While administration officials said this was not a failure of key new technology. Experts both in the US and abroad discussed the positives and negatives of continuing with the program.
“US Missile Defense Test” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 24)
“US Views of Missile Defense” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 24)
“Other Views of Missile Defense” (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 24)
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