Korea
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1. US Korean Policy
ROK officials said that US experts in Korean affairs attended seminars on US-ROK relations under the new US administration and met with ROK officials to discuss issues on the DPRK.
“US Korean Policy” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, ROK)
Charles Kartman, US special envoy for Korean peace, arrived in Seoul on Monday for a three-day visit to discuss the construction of two light-water reactors in the DPRK and other issues of mutual concern, ROK officials said.
“Light-Water Reactor Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK)
The US and the PRC may compound problems on the Korean peninsula due to their differences in approach and means for resolving issues regarding the Korean peninsula, according to a report issued on Sunday by the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) titled “The Inauguration of the Bush Administration and the Outlook for Sino-U.S. Relations.”
“US-PRC Policy towards DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK) |
2. ROK-DPRK Relations
The ROK Presidential Press Service said that reports that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il would visit the ROK early this week were not true, because ROK President Kim Dae-jung was going to be on an official visit to US at that time, and that actually it might take place on February 23.
“DPRK-ROK Summit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
ROK media pool reports indicated that the ROK and DPRK made progress in talks on Friday on building a dam to control flooding across the Demilitarized Zone.
“Inter-Korean Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 23, US)
Inter-Korean trade in the West Sea is likely resume soon after a three-month hiatus, which was caused by an inter-Korean strife over shipping companies.
“Inter-Korean Maritime Trade” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK) |
3. ROK-DPRK Military Relations
The DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the ROK insistence on naming DPRK as its “principal enemy” is jeopardizing the recent rapprochement between the two countries.
“ROK-DPRK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, US)
The ROK government is determined to reach an agreement with the DPRK on several important issues in the second inter-Korean military summit. The top issues to resolve are direct phone connection between the two countries’ command structures, regular meeting of military officials, and advanced notification of military exercises, as well as permanently removing any chances of war.
“Inter-Korean Military Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK) |
4. ROK Military Relations
ROK Army Chief of Staff Kil Hyoung-bo embarked on a 12-day tour of the US and the PRC Tuesday for talks on military exchanges and cooperation with ranking defense officials of the two nations.
“ROK Army Chief’s Visit to US and PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK) |
5. DPRK Weapons Programs
The DPRK warned that it might resume long-range missile tests and its nuclear program to protest delays in the light-water reactor energy project and US demands for greater reciprocity in US-DPRK relations.
“DPRK Weapons Programs” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 23, US) |
6. DPRK Domestic Conditions
According to an ROK government official, the DPRK will send a delegation to the US within the end of the month to study economic issues there.
“DPRK Visit to US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK)
DPRK celebrated its leader Kim Jong-il’s 59th birthday on February 16. Officially he was born in an anti-Japanese guerilla camp, yet unofficial versions claim the event took place in a village of Vyatskoye, 70 kilometers from Khabarovsk, USSR.
“DPRK Leader’s Birthday” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
UN officials said that the DPRK is less hungry than during the worst food shortages in 1997, thanks in large part to international aid. The German government announced on Saturday that it will meet with the DPRK delegates in Berlin to discuss food assistance to the DPRK.
“DPRK Health System” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, US)
“DPRK-Germany Aid Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK) |
China
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1. PRC-Iraq Relations
US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said that the US plans to protest PRC assistance to Iraqi anti-aircraft systems and to urge the PRC to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions regarding sanctions on Iraq. A US Defense official said that PRC workers have been laying fiber optic links at the Iraqi air defense sites targeted in last week’s air strike near Baghdad. US President George W. Bush said that evidence of the PRC’s aid in building radar systems had “risen to the level where we are going to send a message to the Chinese.”
“Alleged PRC Aid to Iraq” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, US)
“Alleged PRC-Iraq Military Cooperation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, US)
“PRC Proliferation Issues” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 23, US) |
2. PRC-US Relations
A US State Department official said that the department is likely to recommend that the US sponsor a UN resolution condemning the PRC’s human rights record. However, it remains unclear how vigorously the administration will push the human rights measure.
“PRC-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, US)
PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhu Bangzao criticized alleged US sales of the PAC-III missile defense system and relevant missiles to Taiwan.
“US Arms Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC) |
3. PRC-Russia Cooperation
RF Vice Premier Ilya Klebanov said that the 8th session of RF-PRC Intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation will discuss issues in aviation, navy and land armaments. The PRC is reportedly considering buying four RF-made early warning A-50 planes, air defense complexes and some other types of weapons. The PRC’s People’s Liberation Army/Navy (PLAN) is also preparing to acquire Kh-35 long-range anti-ship missiles.
“RF-PRC Military Cooperation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
“PRC Weapons Programs” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 23, US)
RF Economic Development and Trade Minister Herman Gref was to pay a visit to the PRC on February 19 to study PRC’s reform experiences and discuss bilateral cooperation issues.
“RF-PRC Economic Cooperation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF) |
4. Cross-Strait Relations
Tian Hung-mao, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Taiwan, complained that due to “unreasonable limitations” concerning Taiwan’s international status, it could not participate in the UN and other bodies in the era of globalization.
“RF-Taiwan Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
The official PRC Xinhua news agency said on Monday that senior PRC defense official Guo Boxiong told Singapore’s second minister for defense Teo Chee Han that the PRC was opposed to any country with diplomatic relations with the PRC also developing official ties with Taiwan.
PRC-Taiwan Diplomatic Rivalry” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, US)
The deputy mayor of Taiwan’s Taipei, Bai Hsiu-hsiung, traveled to Shanghai, during which the Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council had asked him “Not to have any political conversation, not to sign any kind of agreements, among other things.”
“Cross-Straits Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 23, US) |
5. South China Sea
PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhu Bangzao said that the PRC holds indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent sea areas in the South China Sea.
“South China Sea Disputes” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC) |
Japan
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1. US Submarine Accident
The US Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Greeneville struck the much smaller Ehime Maru fishing vessel of Japanese registry during an emergency surfacing drill off the coast of Hawaii, sinking the ship. 26 persons were rescued by the US Coast Guard and nine remain lost at sea.
“US Submarine Accident” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
The submarine accident has provided new ammunition to those who resent the US troop presence in Japan and has reinforced the perception that the US is a less than reliable guarantor of Japan’s security interests.
“US-Japan Security Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 23, US) |
2. Japan-US Relations
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said Wednesday that he would delay a visit to the US to meet US President George W. Bush. Mori said that an early March visit was difficult as it would conflict with the expected passage of next year’s budget through parliament’s Lower House. Partners of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan had been openly saying that Japan’s Premier Yoshiro Mori should retire, partly because of his handling of the US submarine accident. The Asahi newspaper claimed that Mori’s confidence rating had fallen to 9 percent.
“US-Japan Summit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, US)
“Japanese Political Situation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF) |
3. Alleged RF Violation of Japanese Airspace
RF Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev “resolutely rejected” a statement made by National Defense Agency of Japan alleging that two Tu-22 bombers and two Su-27 fighters of the RF Air Force violated Japanese air space last Wednesday in the vicinity of Rebun island, Hokkaido.
“Alleged RF Violation of Japanese Airspace” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
“Russian-Japanese Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC) |
Russia
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1. Russia-US Nuclear Issues
The US accused Russia of violating nonproliferation agreements in its decision to ship nuclear fuel to India’s Tarapur power plants and accused India of following a nuclear weapons program.
“Russian Proliferation Issues” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
Russian-daily Versiya reported that while “naive Russian citizens” listen to RF State Duma debating the issue of foreign nuclear waste to be imported for re-processing, US nuclear waste, as already planned by US Energy Department, would go to the RF to be buried there through the US-Taiwan-RF route.
“RF-US-Taiwan Nuclear Waste Deal” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF) |
2. Russian Military Exports
From 1992-1999, RF military industrial enterprises delivered 11 ships and 10 submarines to foreign navies and only 2 ships and 2 submarines to the RF Navy, 435 tanks went abroad and 31 to RF Army, 278 planes were sold abroad and 7 to RF Air Force, 98 helicopters, 22 aircraft and missile defense systems and 217 armored personnel carriers and fighting infantry vehicles were sold to foreign countries and 8, 1 and 17 respectively were sold to the RF Armed Forces.
“RF Arms Exports” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF) |
3. Russia-ROK Relations
According to Park Joon-young, spokesman for Cheong Wa-dae, Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Seoul on February 27.
“DPRK-Russia Summit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, ROK) |
South Asia
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1. Ceasefire Extension
The Indian Cabinet Committee on National Security, chaired by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, made the decision on February 22 to extend the ceasefire for three additional months. Editorials stated that the recent acts of violence were creating pressure against further extension of the ceasefire in the media and among security services. Other editorials argued that the ceasefire is in danger of losing direction, especially after security forces fired into a protest.
“Ceasefire Extension” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
“Militant Groups” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
“Ceasefire Statements” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
“Ceasefire Statements” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
“Ceasefire Commentary” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
Indian soldiers fired upon and killed seven of the demonstrators mourning at the burial of a young man who had died in police custody the previous day. The Indian Army admitted two days later that its troops had opened fire. The Hizbul Mujahideen threatened to target the families of Indian troops in retaliation for the civilians recently killed by Indian security forces north of Srinagar.
“Recent Violence” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8) |
2. Pakistani Aircraft
Two Pakistani aircraft crossed the Line of Control, were engaged by Indian ground forces, and forced to return. Indian Army headquarters reported that one of the planes may have been hit and a search was conducted to see if the plane had crashed in Indian territory.
“Pakistani Aircraft” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8) |
3. India Foreign Relations: US, PRC
A panel commissioned by the US-based Asia Society described India as a rising power and asked the US government to recognize that Indian cooperation is needed to meet US goals of regional stability and nonproliferation. Chairman of the US Senate committee for South Asia, Sam Brownback, said at the Brookings Institution that the US should end all post-Pokhran nuclear test sanctions against India in order to draw closer to face the “common threat from China.”
“India-US Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
Bhartendu Kumar Singh discusses for the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies in New Delhi the India-PRC relationship, and argued that the PRC is interested in dominating India in South Asia and remaining as the greatest representative of the third world, both of which India could challenge if given the opportunity.
“India-PRC Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8) |
4. Indian Naval Review
The navies of 19 foreign countries participated in India’s annual International Fleet Review, though Pakistan and the PRC will not be participating. India used the opportunity of the fleet review to call for joint action by Asian naval powers to combat piracy, weapons trade, and drug trafficking in the region’s sea-lanes.
“International Fleet Review” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8) |
5. Military Hardware Acquisitions
India finally signed a deal for the purchase and manufacture of 310 Russian T-90 main battle tanks. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov said Russia would soon sign a deal to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier.
“India-Russian Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
The cabinet of Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf’s government decided that Pakistan would hold its defense budget at a constant level for the next year. The Pakistan Navy will test fire the medium-range anti-ship SM-39 Exocet missile next month, possibly from its Agosta 90-B submarine.
“Defense Budget” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
“Military Hardware” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8) |
6. Taliban Foreign Relations
Following a US decision to close the Taliban’s office in New York, the Taliban ordered the UN Special Mission in Afghanistan (UNSMA) to close its office in Kabul, but did not mention the other UNSMA offices in Afghanistan.
“UN Office Closure” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8)
The Dawn quoted a high-level official in the Taliban as stating that the Taliban was ready to send Osama Bin Laden to Saudi Arabia to face terrorism charges. The Dawn later reported that Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar had denied offering to hand Osama Bin Laden for trial.
“Osama Bin Laden” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #8) |
Nuclear Weapons
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1. US Nuclear Policy Review
US President George W. Bush ordered Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to conduct a full review of the US nuclear strategy. The Project on Defense Alternatives released a briefing memo discussing the 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review. Theresa Hitchens argues in a new BASIC essay that while past statements by members of the Bush administration create optimism for the outcome of the upcoming nuclear posture review, there are several issues of concern to the nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation community. The memo argues that the current US military posture has created a number of detrimental paradoxes.
“US Nuclear Policy Review” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7) |
2. British Nuclear Program
The British Royal Navy entered into operational service its fourth and last Trident missile submarine, the HMS Vengeance.
“UK Trident Submarine Launch” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7) |
Missile Defense
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1. Non-US Perspectives on US NMD Program
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien relayed to PRC President Jiang Zemin the US interest in meeting to discuss the US-proposed missile defense system. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer will travel to the US to meet with US officials. This visit comes after meeting with Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, where they discussed the proposed US missile defense. Fischer has said this meeting yielded a possible new Russian flexibility on missiles defense issue. US Secretary of State Colin Powell will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on February 24, and they are expected to discuss issues such as nuclear disarmament, arms control agreements such as the 1972 ABM Treaty, and the proposed US national missile defense program. Russian first deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Valery Manilov said on February 15 that Russia is willing to seek a way to hold dialogue with the US on the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty, although Russia does not want to soften its position. Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Russia and the PRC discussed coordinated opposition to a mooted US missile defense shield and plans for a summit this year. PRC military experts warned that US plans to deploy a NMD system will lead to a new arms race, including one in outer- space.
“PRC and Missile Defense” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7)
“Perspectives from Europe, Russia” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7)
“Russia-US Talks on NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC)
“Russia-PRC Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21)
“PRC View on NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC) |
2. Commentary on US NMD Program
James Lindsay and Michael O’Hanlon, of the Brookings Institution, Samuel R. Berger, US National Security Advisor under President Bill Clinton, and Thomas Friedman published analyses of missile defense.
“Missile Defense Commentary” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7) |
3. US NMD Rationalizations
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in his interview to PBS TV-channel had subjected RF to “unprecedented criticism” by alleging that “Russians actively proliferate nuclear technologies.” He claimed that the RF had been selling to Iran, the DPRK, India and other countries technologies that posed a threat to the US, but that when the US wanted to build defense against those, the RF criticized the US. Russia rejected US allegations that Russia was responsible for spreading missile technology.
“Alleged RF Proliferation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 21, RF)
“Russia-US Missile Disagreements” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC) |
4. Russian NMD Proposal
Russian Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov, head of the Defense Ministry’s international cooperation department, said that Russia would be ready with details of its plan for a compact and inexpensive missile shield for Europe when NATO Secretary-General George Robertson visits Russia next week.
“Russian Missile Shield Plan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, PRC) |
Security
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1. US Policy toward Asia
A promise by US President George W. Bush to work more closely with traditional US allies and the appointment of Asia experts to his policy team have convinced some Asian policymakers that the region’s interests will fare better under his administration than they did during the Clinton years.
“US Policy toward Asia” (NAPSNet Daily Report, February 20, US) |
2. Proliferation Threats to the US
US CIA Director George J. Tenet made a statement to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He discussed the threats facing the US and reviewed region-specific threats.
“Proliferation Threats” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7) |
Arms Control
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1. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Jack Mendelsohn, Deputy Director of the Arms Control Association and Executive Director of the Lawyers Alliance for World Security (LAWS), writes in the current issue of the Acronym Institute’s Disarmament Diplomacy on the Bush administration’s three options for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
“Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7) |
2. NATO Nonproliferation Report
A NATO report provides an extensive and comprehensive evaluation of overall developments and of NATO member countries’ efforts in the areas of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery, and identifies a number of options for the future.
“NATO Arms Control Policy” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #7)
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