Korea
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1. Inter-Korean Ties
A day after it abruptly canceled Cabinet-level talks with the ROK, the DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency released a statement highly critical of the US for its hard-line stance on resuming talks with the DPRK designed to halt its missile program.
“DPRK Missile Program” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11)
“Inter-Korean Ties” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, ROK)
“Inter-Korean Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, ROK)
The ROK Defense Ministry said Wednesday that DPRK’s promised delivery of a signed copy of the agreement on the rules and regulations for the inter-Korean joint governance of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) has been delayed by more than a month. The Korean Central News Agency has reported that talks between the railway ministers of the DPRK and Russia on linking train networks have resulted in an agreement to bolster cooperation on rail transport.
“Inter-Korean Railway Project” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 22, ROK)
“DPRK-Russia Railway Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, ROK) |
2. EU-DPRK Missile Talks
DPRK Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Su-hon said that he presented new ideas to Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson for a dialogue between the DPRK and the European Union (EU) on the DPRK missile program on Thursday. Choi said that while the US has stalled, “many countries from the European Union expressed new interest to have a dialogue.” ROK analysts said that the DPRK is using a dual strategy of threats and appeasement to coax the US into the early resumption of dialogue.
“EU-DPRK Missile Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US)
“DPRK Stance toward US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, ROK)
“DPRK-EU Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, ROK)
European engineering companies such as Asea Brown Boveri Group of Switzerland and Siemens AG of Germany have taken initial steps to begin working on the DPRK power system, but are waiting for US President George W. Bush’s administration to decide on its policy toward the DPRK.
“DPRK Energy Aid” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 21, US) |
3. DPRK Policy towards US
The DPRK’s official KCNA station reported that the DPRK did not want a confrontation with the US, saying, “We have no intention of making preemptive attacks against the United States, and we hope the two nations will end their confrontation and improve relations.” An earlier KCNA commentary stated US soldiers stationed in the ROK were “cannibals,” and said that “now is the time when Koreans, whether they are in the south or in the north of the Korean Peninsula, should join hands in removing the U.S. imperialists from South Korea.” Quoting a release by the DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, the KCNA reported that the DPRK has demanded an official apology and compensation from the US for war crimes committed by US soldiers during the Korean War (1950-53). The KCNA also reported that Senator Jessie Helms’ call for the US to abandon the 1994 Geneva Agreed Framework as an open “declaration of confrontation.”
“US-DPRK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 22, US)
“DPRK Policy towards US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, ROK)
“US-DPRK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, US)
“DPRK Stance toward US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 22, ROK)
“DPRK on US War Crimes” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, ROK)
“DPRK on US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, ROK) |
4. US Policy toward DPRK
J. Peter Scoblic, editor of Arms Control Today, said that US President George W. Bush’s expressed concern that the DPRK would not comply with any agreement on missiles is based on a misunderstanding of the importance of verification. Scoblic stated, “An agreement ending North Korea’s missile development and exports would be a boon for US security, and the inability to fully guarantee North Korea’s compliance does not make a deal imprudent or dangerous.”
“US Policy toward DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US)
Representative Chang Young-dal of the Millennium Democratic Party said that ROK lawmakers sent an open letter to US President George W. Bush and the US Congress on Monday calling for the US to work toward improving ties with the DPRK.
“ROK Lawmakers Letter to US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, ROK)
Admiral Dennis Blair, the US Pacific military commander, told ROK journalists that despite recent thaws with the ROK, the DPRK is still Washington’s No. 1 enemy in the Pacific region and has to prove otherwise with its actions.
“US Position on DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 22, ROK) |
5. DPRK Policy Coordination
ROK officials said that the ROK will hold high-level talks with the US and Japan in Seoul this week to coordinate their policies on the DPRK since President George W. Bush took office.
“ROK, US, Japan Talks on DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 22, ROK)
“DPRK Policy Coordination” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 21, US) |
6. Agreed Framework
The US President George Bush administration will look at the 1994 Agreed Framework as part of its review of US policy toward the DPRK. An unnamed senior US official stated, “We’re not walking away from the agreed framework,” but added, “we always leave open the possibility of improving something like this.” Robert Gallucci, a former State Department official, said on Friday that US President George W. Bush’s administration was right to consider possible changes in the 1994 Agreed Framework, but should consult its regional allies.
“Agreed Framework” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 21, US)
“US Policy toward DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US)
Diplomatic sources said Charles Kartman, the US special envoy for Korean peace talks, was nominated as executive director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO).
“KEDO” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, ROK) |
7. DPRK Nuclear Capabilities
The Education Center of Unification, a think tank affiliated with the ROK Unification Ministry, said Friday that the DPRK is believed to be capable of making one or two nuclear bombs.
“DPRK Nuclear Capabilities” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US) |
8. OSCE Conference
ROK Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Lee Joung-binn, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Korea- OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) Conference 2001, said Tuesday that the time is ripe for the establishment of a mechanism for regional security dialogue in Northeast Asia. Unnamed diplomats said that the DPRK rejected an invitation to participate in the meeting.
“OSCE Conference” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, ROK)
“DPRK Participation in Security Conference” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US) |
9. ROK Military
ROK President Kim Dae-jung said Monday that the ROK will create a new “strategic mobile fleet” consisting of destroyers, submarines and anti-submarine aircraft.
“ROK Navy” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, ROK) |
10. DPRK Internal Conditions
The DPRK Sunday announced it would convene the fourth congress of the 10th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA), its parliament, early next month, raising expectations among Pyongyang watchers here about the DPRK’s shift toward greater openness for its neighbors.
“DPRK Parliament to Convene” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, ROK)
The PRC’s official Xinhua news agency said Friday that the DPRK has built a well-developed national Intranet network used by more than 1,000 people each day.
“DPRK Intranet” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US)
DPRK leader Kim Jong-il sent a telegram to the family of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung on Friday, expressing his “deep condolences” over Chung’s death.
“Death of Hyundai Founder” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US) |
11. DPRK Visit to US
A delegation of five officials from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Washington, DC February 27 to March 3 to participate in a private seminar on international business practices and financial organizations at George Washington University’s Sigur Center for Asian Studies.
“DPRK Visit to US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 21, US) |
China
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1. US-PRC Talks
PRC Vice Premier Qian Qichen arrived in Washington on March 21 for talks with President Bush and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and various governmental and non-governmental groups criticized the PRC on a number of issues. Qian met with Powell for talks on Iraqi sanctions, PRC and DPRK missile proliferation, PRC opposition to US missile defense plans and delays in PRC fulfillment of an agreement to open its markets before joining the World Trade Organization. The media reported that there is tension in the talks between Qian and Bush this week because of the impending US decision on whether to sell advanced weaponry to Taiwan. Bush told Qian that he would be “firm” but “respectful” in outlining differences with the PRC on issues like Taiwan, human rights and religious freedom, but that he believed the two sides could find common ground.
“US-PRC Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 22, US)
“US Arms Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US)
“US Arms Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, US)
“PRC-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC)
“US-PRC Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, US) |
2. Bush to Visit Asia
PRC Premier Zhu Rongji said that US President George W. Bush is expected to visit the PRC in October this year after attending the informal leadership meeting of the APEC group, to be held in Shanghai. The White House announced Saturday that US President George W. Bush will be traveling to Northeast Asia later this year. Although details have yet to be announced his tour will include stopovers in Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing.
“Bush’s Visit to PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC)
“Bush to Visit ROK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, ROK) |
3. US Policy toward PRC
A Washington Times article argued that the US should implement the recommendations of a recent congressional report that said that Taiwan needs to bolster its defense.
“US Policy toward PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US)
US President George W. Bush is likely to encounter disagreement among his foreign policy advisors over US policy toward the PRC. The article said that US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is assembling a team with fairly hawkish views toward the PRC, while institutional pressures in the US State Department will likely push Secretary of State Colin Powell toward a more friendly posture.
“US-PRC Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 21, US) |
4. US Weapons Sales to Taiwan
The South China Morning Post reported that US officials said that the US is unlikely to sell Taiwan Aegis radar ships this year. However, the US Navy and the defense industry have been lobbying the US Congress to support the sale of Aegis radar-equipped destroyers to Taiwan.
“US Weapons Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 21, US)
Sun Yafu, assistant director of the PRC Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said that the US media report alleging that the PRC is building up its missiles to target Taiwan has been fabricated to provide an excuse for arms sales to the island.
“US Arms Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC) |
5. PRC-US Relations
Sources confirmed that a senior colonel in the PRC’s People’s Liberation Army defected to the US while visiting late last year as part of a delegation of PRC officers. The source added that the PRC intelligence community believes that US officials in Beijing arranged at the same time for the man’s wife to attend a party at the US Embassy, where she was given travel documents and moved to the United States.
“Alleged PRC Defector to US” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US)
PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said Friday that Gao Zhan, a US-based sociologist who has been held incommunicado since February 11 for “activities damaging state security,” had “openly confessed her crimes.”
“US Scholar Detained in PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US) |
6. PRC Companies in Iraq
US Defense Department officials have accused PRC based Huawei Technologies of laying optical communications cables between Iraqi antiaircraft batteries, radar stations and command centers.
“PRC Companies in Iraq” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 19, US) |
7. Dalai Lama’s Taiwan Visit
Commenting on a report that said the Buddhist association of Taiwan would invite the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said that both Taiwan and Tibet are inseparable parts of China’s territory and the PRC Government opposes any separation of the motherland in any form.
“Dalai Lama’s Taiwan Visit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC) |
8. DPRK-PRC Relations
An ROK government official said Zeng Qinghong, PRC President Jiang Zemin’s close aide, arrived in the DPRK, possibly to discuss Jiang’s reciprocal visit to Pyongyang.
“DPRK-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, ROK) |
9. PRC-Philippines Relations
PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao accused a Philippine navy crew of boarding 10 PRC fishing boats near Huangyan Island last week to conduct inspections. Zhu stressed that Huangyan Island has always been an integral part of Chinese territory, and the waters around the island are traditional fishing grounds for Chinese fishermen.
“PRC-Philippines Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC) |
Japan
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1. US-Japan Talks
US President George W. Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. US officials said that the talks focused mainly on the economy, but the Japanese officials dwelled more on the security issues surrounding the PRC, Russia and the DPRK, including the DPRK’s development of the Nodong missile.
“US-Japan Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US) |
2. Japanese-Russian Territorial Issue
A joint statement to be announced by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 25 would clarify that the future negotiations for the territorial issue should be based on the 1956 Japanese-Soviet Joint Statement, which states that two of the four islands be returned to Japan after concluding a peace treaty, but would not clarify any specific deadline for the conclusion of the treaty.
“Japanese-Russian Territorial Issue” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, Japan) |
3. DPRK-Japanese Relations
DPRK representatives to the United Nations released a communique that said that Japan, which is remilitarizing and seeking to be a military power, has no qualification to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“DPRK-Japanese Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC)
The Japanese government’s fact-finding team on DPRK atomic bomb victims said on March 18 that an alleged 1,353 people in the DPRK were victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, and that 928 of them are still alive.
“DPRK Atomic Bomb Victims” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, Japan) |
4. Japanese History Textbook
PRC President Jiang Zemin asked new Japanese Ambassador to Beijing Koreshige Anan to show consideration to the PRC people’s concern about the Japanese history textbook.
“Japanese History Textbook” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, Japan) |
South Asia
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1. Defense Ministry Scandal
The website Tehelka.com released a report alleging corruption in defense deals within the Indian government. Defense Minister George Fernandes resigned as Indian Minister of Defense on March 15, citing a desire to publicly explain the allegations of bribery. Indian President K.R. Nrayanan named External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to fill the portfolio of Defense Minister, in addition to the portfolio of External Affairs.
“Defense Ministry Scandal” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12) |
2. Kofi Annan Visit
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in India, said about talks with Pakistani officials that “it was obvious they wanted to prepare the UN to be a third party to assist” in resolving the issue. While in Pakistan, Kofi Annan had stated that the 1948 UN resolution on Kashmir could not be imposed on either India or Pakistan. Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh rejected the call for a resumption of talks between India and Pakistan, made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf stated that India and Pakistan “are nearing a solution as the SAARC has been made effective again.”
“Kofi Annan Visit” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12)
“Commentary on the UN Role” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12)
“India-Pakistan Dialogue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12)
“Pakistan-India Dialogue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12) |
3. India-US Relations
C. Raja Mohan writes in The Hindu that India could possibly support calls by the administration of US President George Bush for missile defense under the condition that these defenses be accompanied by less threatening nuclear postures, deep cuts in nuclear arsenals, extensive consultations among nuclear powers to maintain strategic stability, and the creation of a more effective international regime to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
“India-US Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12) |
4. Pakistan Military Hardware
Pakistan Major General Syed Ali Hamid stated that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons capabilities demonstrates that Pakistan has the technological capabilities that enable it to sell other weapons systems. However, he said, “Strategic systems such as missiles are not a product that’s on sale.”
“Military Hardware” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12) |
5. Pakistan Military Government
Officials of Pakistan’s Interior Ministry agreed to leave alone militant groups operating in Kashmir if they show discretion in raising funds and recruiting. The Times of India stated that this was a retreat from Pakistan’s attempt to crackdown on militant group fundraising. Major-General Rashid Qureshi announced that the Pakistani government would open state-run radio and television outlets to opposition politicians to express their views.
“Militant Groups” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12)
“Military Government” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12) |
Nuclear Weapons
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1. Pakistan Nuclear Policy
Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said Pakistan would not be the first to resume testing and was in favor of a no-first-use policy for nuclear weapons. Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar outlined Pakistan’s “three-point nuclear doctrine” to the Japanese government during his trip to Japan.
“Pakistan Nuclear Policy” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #12) |
Proliferation
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1. CIA Nonproliferation Center
Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, George J. Tenet, created the Weapons Intelligence, Nonproliferation and Arms Control Center, to be directed by Alan Foley, current head of the CIA’s Arms Control Intelligence Staff.
“CIA Nonproliferation Center” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11) |
2. Iranian Proliferation Issues
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin formally agreed to resume sales of conventional arms to Iran after a hiatus of more than five years. Putin also reiterated Russia’s intention to help Iran complete a long-stalled nuclear power plant that some US experts contend could advance Iran’s nuclear weapons program. US Secretary of State Colin Powell told Sergei B. Ivanov, who heads Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s security council, that Russia should not be “investing in weapons sales in countries such as Iran which have no future.” The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed a claim by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld that Russia spreads missile technologies.
“Russia Arm Sales to Iran” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11)
“Alleged Russian Missile Proliferation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US)
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Tuesday told US President George W. Bush that much of Iran’s ballistic missile technology comes from the DPRK.
“DPRK Missile Sales” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, US) |
Missile Defense
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1. US Statement on Missile Defense
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, speaking with NATO Secretary-General George Robertson at a March 8 joint press conference, said tagging the missile defense effort as either theater or national is “unuseful.”
“Rumsfeld Statement on Missile Defense” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11) |
2. PRC View on NMD
Sha Zukang, director of the PRC’s Arms Control and Disarmament Department, said the US national missile-defense plan would destabilize the region, but also said that the PRC was willing to discuss it with the US in order to “narrow our differences.” Sha said, “China is not opposed to [theater missile defense] but view with alarm any US attempts to transfer missile defense technology to Taiwan.
“PRC Statements” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11)
“PRC View on NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 20, PRC) |
3. ROK View on NMD
ROK Foreign Minister Lee Joung-binn said on Friday that, during the recent US-ROK summit, the US asked for ROK support for the US plan to promote the National Missile Defense (NMD) system. Lee stated, “We disagreed, however, and the White House later announced it had not made any request or that South Korea had expressed it support.”
“ROK Position on Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, US) |
4. Japanese View on NMD
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori stated at the Japanese-US summit meeting on March 19, “We share with the US the recognition that the proliferation of ballistic missiles is becoming a serious threat. We understand the US (need for) discussion of national missile defense.”
“Japanese Stance on NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, March 23, Japan) |
5. Russian MD Proposal
An editorial by Trevor Corson, managing editor of Transition at Harvard University, argues that the chief effect of Russia’s offer of cooperation on missile defense would be to radically destabilize global security dynamics by backing the PRC into a corner.
“PRC-US Relations” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11)
Nikolai Sokov writes that the vagueness of the Russian proposal for a European Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system provides an opportunity for NATO to fill the gaps and shape Russian policy in ways compatible with NATO’s own interests and security needs.
“Russian Proposed MD” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #11)
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