NAPSNET Week in Review 18 February, 2000

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"NAPSNET Week in Review 18 February, 2000", NAPSNet Weekly Report, February 18, 2000, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/napsnet-week-in-review-18-february-2000/

Korean Peninsula


1. Australia-DPRK Talks

Australia announced that it would send a delegation to the DPRK on February 22, but Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that normalization of relations would not be on the agenda. Australia also announced a new aid package for the DPRK.
“DPRK-Australia Relations” (Daily Report, February 18, ROK)
“DPRK-Australia Relations” (Daily Report, February 18, Japan)
“DPRK-Australia Talks” (Daily Report, February 17, US)
“Australian Aid to DPRK” (Daily Report, February 17, US)


2. ROK-DPRK Relations

The heads of the ROK and DPRK National Red Cross societies were expected to meet during this week’s Red Cross summit in Beijing. ROK officials said that the DPRK has recently indicated that it would allow reunions of separated family members if the ROK would help to curb DPRK defections. Opposition politicians in the ROK claimed that the DPRK is demanding a cash payment before it will agree to an inter-Korean summit meeting.
“DPRK Policy on Family Reunions” (Daily Report, February 18, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Summit Talks” (Daily Report, February 18, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Red Cross Talks” (Daily Report, February 17, ROK)
“DPRK-ROK Red Cross Meeting” (Daily Report, February 14, ROK)
“ROK-DPRK Relations” (Daily Report, February 14, ROK)


3. DPRK Missiles

The Sankei Shimbun reported that the DPRK is jointly developing advanced cruise missiles with Iran. The Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute published a new history of the DPRK’s missile program.
“DPRK-Iran Missile Development” (Daily Report, February 18, ROK)
“DPRK-Iran Joint Missile Development” (Daily Report, February 18, Japan)
“DPRK Missile Program” (NPP Flash)


4. US Sanctions on DPRK

US and Japanese officials said that the DPRK will have to address the issue of Japanese Red Army members taking asylum in the DPRK before the US can remove the DPRK from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism. The DPRK responded that it is a bilateral issue with Japan and has nothing to do with the US.
“US Sanctions on DPRK” (Daily Report, February 18, US)
“US Sanctions on DPRK” (Daily Report, February 14, ROK)
“DPRK View of US” (Daily Report, February 14, ROK)


5. DPRK Consulate in Hong Kong

The DPRK opened a new consulate in Hong Kong on February 16, Kim Jong-il’s birthday. The consulate is located in the Wanchai section of Hong Kong island, not far from the ROK consulate.
“DPRK Consulate in Hong Kong” (Daily Report, February 17, US)
“DPRK Consulate in Hong Kong” (Daily Report, February 17, ROK)


China


6. PRC-US Talks

A US delegation led by Undersecretary of State Strobe Talbott traveled to the PRC to discuss bilateral relations. The discussions mostly focused on Taiwan.

“US-PRC Talks” (Daily Report, February 18, US)
“US-PRC Talks” (Daily Report, February 17, US)
“US-PRC Talks” (Daily Report, February 16, US)


7. PRC Views of TMD

At the Conference on Disarmament this week, the PRC proposed banning the development of missile defense systems and space-based weapons. The US defended its missile defense development plans, saying that they are needed to counter proliferation by rogue states.
“PRC’s Opposition to TMD” (Daily Report, February 18, Japan)
“PRC View of US Missile Defense” (Daily Report, February 17, US)


Taiwan


8. Taiwan Elections

Taiwanese Vice President Lien Chan said that, if elected president, he would seek to improve relations with the PRC through greater economic links. Nicholas Berry of the Center for Defense Information analyzed the US approach to Taiwan and the PRC in the run-up to March 18 election.
“Cross-Straits Relations” (Daily Report, February 17, US)
“Taiwan Elections” (NPP Flash)


Japan


9. US-Japan Talks

A US delegation led by Undersecretary of State Strobe Talbott traveled to Japan to discuss interests of mutual concerns. Topics included Japanese attempts to improve relations with the DPRK, preparations for the Group of 8 summit meeting in Okinawa, and Japanese support for US troops.
“Japanese-US Defense Relations” (Daily Report, February 18, Japan)
“US-Japan Consultations” (Daily Report, February 16, US)
“Background Briefing for Japanese Media” (Special Report)

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