NAPSNET Week in Review 26 January, 2001

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"NAPSNET Week in Review 26 January, 2001", NAPSNet Weekly Report, January 26, 2001, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/napsnet-week-in-review-26-january-2001/

Korea


1. Kim Jong-il Visit to PRC

DPRK leader Kim Jong-il returned to his country on January 20 after a secretive five-day visit to the PRC. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said, “Mr. Kim stressed that the big changes that have taken place…since China began its reform and opening-up have proved that the policies pursued by the Chinese Communist Party and people are correct.” The ROK welcomed Kim’s visit as an important sign that the country may follow the PRC’s reform path. The inclusion on the trip of First Vice-Foreign Minister Kang Sok-ju, who personally participated and commanded negotiations with the US Clinton administration for eight years, also allows conjectures that one of the critical goals during Kim Jong-il’s visit to the PRC was consulting about DPRK-US relations. An unnamed ROK government official said on Friday that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il said during a visit to the PRC last week that he will visit Seoul “without fail” for a second inter-Korea summit.
“Kim Jong-il Visit to PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, US)
“Kim Jong-il’s PRC Visit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, US)
“PRC-DPRK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, PRC)
“Kim Jong-il’s ROK Visit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, US)

Russian daily Nezavisimaya gazeta reported that it was possible that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il would go to the RF directly from the PRC. According to sources in the PRC, his special train suddenly changed direction and went to Harbin close to the PRC-RF border instead of to Pyongyang. The DPRK Foreign Ministry denied even reports of Kim’s visit to the PRC.
“DPRK Leader’s Possible Visit to RF” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, RF)
“DPRK Leader in PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, RF)


2. Analysis of Kim’s PRC Visit

Lee Hun-kyong, a research fellow at the semi-official Korea Institute of National Unification in Seoul, said that the DPRK’s latest diplomatic offensive is part of its circumventing strategy designed to weaken the new US administration’s hard-line stance toward the DPRK.
“Kim Jong-il Visit to PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 23, US)

PRC and ROK analysts cautioned against speculation that Kim intends to imitate the PRC and reform his country’s economy while trying to maintain a tight grip on political power. Experts said that any attempt by the DPRK to become a “second China” will be extremely difficult. Michael Parks and Gregory F. Treverton of the Pacific Council of International Policy said that the DPRK’s current situation is similar to that of the PRC in the 1970s, but said, “These changes were possible only with the consolidation of power by Deng [Xiaoping] in 1978…North Korea is not China; it has fewer resources…Its economic crisis is probably deeper than China’s was in 1978, and its political sophistication and technical know-how is shallower.”
“Analysis of Possible DPRK Reform” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 23, US)
“DPRK Economic Reform” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, US)


3. US Policy on DPRK

Han Sung Joo, a professor of political science at Korea University and a former foreign minister, identified three key areas to consider as the administration of George W. Bush formulates its Korea policy. He said, “There is no need to rush into a major policy shift. The success of the Bush administration’s policy will depend on how well it can keep North Korea engaged even while keeping its threatening behavior in check.”
“Analysis of DPRK Policy” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, US)

ROK spokesman Park Joon-young said that US President George W. Bush on Thursday pledged close consultations with ROK President Kim Dae-jung to help end hostility on the Korean peninsula. A DPRK foreign ministry spokesman criticized US Secretary of State Colin Powell for calling Kim Jong-il a dictator. The spokesman said that Powell’s comments reflected the interests of hardliners and arms-makers who wanted relations between the US and the DPRK to remain hostile.
“US-ROK Policy Coordination” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 25, US)
“DPRK View of Bush Administration” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, US)


4. ROK-US Relations

An ROK official revealed that although the ROK government has not announced an official commentary on the inauguration of US President George W. Bush, the ROK government expects an early summit talk between the two nations because it is concerned about the new US administration’s policy toward the Korean Peninsula and East Asia.

“ROK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, Japan)


5. ROK Military

The New York Times reported that the US and the ROK have completed an agreement which will permit the ROK to build and deploy missiles with a range of up to 187 miles, an increased from a 1979 agreement to limit ROK missiles to a range of 112 miles.
“ROK Missile Program” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)

An anonymous ROK Defense Ministry official said that the military is considering a five-year restructuring plan that would cut senior officers’ wages and some jobs. He said that the objective is to use the money saved to modernize the ROK military and enhance its defensive readiness against the DPRK.
“ROK Military Restructuring” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, US)


China


1. PRC Human Rights Issues

Marie Okabe, spokeswoman UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, said that PRC officials told Annan that the PRC will probably ratify International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by the end of March.
“PRC Human Rights” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, US)


2. Cross-Straits Relations

A forum was held on January 22 in Beijing to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the issuance of the Eight-Point Proposal on Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland, put forward by President Jiang Zemin. Vice Premier Qian Qichen said that the proposals are bound to improve cross-Straits relations in the new century and benefit the great cause of peaceful reunification.
“Taiwan Question” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, PRC)

Officials said that it is uncertain whether mainland residents will be able to visit Taiwan from July 1 because Taiwan’s widely publicized plan to open the island to PRC tourists has still not been confirmed due to “an absence of concrete arrangements between the two sides.”
“Taiwan Tourism Proposal” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, PRC)


3. PRC Military Hardware

Taiwan Defense Minister Wu Shih-wen reported that a new Russian-built Sovremenny-class destroyer has been delivered to the PRC.
“New PRC Destroyer” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, US)


4. Taiwan Arms Sales

Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian sent a letter of appeal to US President George W. Bush to sell the island Aegis class destroyers to fend off a potential threat from the PRC.
“Taiwan Arms Sales” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, US)


5. PRC-US Relations

The US Government paid a total of US$28 million to the PRC Government on January 19 for property losses caused by the US bombing of the PRC Embassy in Yugoslavia on May 8, 1999.
“US Compensation for Embassy Bombing” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, PRC)

The National Security Archive at George Washington University released a report and US government documents collected by William Burr and Jeffrey Richelson which showed that President Kennedy considered bombing strikes and covert paramilitary operations to destroy the PRC’s nuclear weapons program in the early 1960s.
“US Policy on PRC Nuclear Program” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)
“PRC-US Relations” (NAPSNet Week In Review, January 19)

Asian officials have said they were concerned that the importance being given to Taiwan and missile defense by the Bush administration could override other strands of US policy toward Asia. Both policy issues will create additional tensions in the US-PRC relationship, though other Asia states will “bear the brunt of it,” according to Melina Nathan, associate research fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in Singapore.
“US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 25, US)


6. PRC-Japan Relations

The PRC’s former premier and current chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Peng may visit Japan in the spring as part of bilateral efforts to secure medium- and long-term stability in the relations between the two nations.
“Li Peng’s Possible Visit to Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, Japan)

China Daily carried an opinion piece criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori’s recent speech in which Mori referred to Japan’s invasion of China in the 1930s as the “Shina” incident, using an old and derogatory Japanese term for China.
“PRC-Japan Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, PRC)

Two Chinese doctors said that Japan’s military released swarms of fleas infected with cholera, typhoid, anthrax and bubonic plague on China that triggered outbreaks of bubonic plague in the 1940s.
“Japanese Germ Warfare in China” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, US)


Japan


1. Japan-DPRK Normalization

Liberal Party Diet member Shingo Nishimura stated that the Japanese government decided that the issue of the DPRK’s abduction of Japanese civilians cannot be avoided before normalization with the DPRK. Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono said that Japan’s normalization of ties with the DPRK was not only inevitable but also morally necessary.
“Japanese-DPRK Abduction Issue” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, Japan)


2. Japan-DPRK Economic Relations

Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yutaka Kawashima said that Japan hopes DPRK leader Kim Jong-il’s recent trip to the PRC and Kim’s praise of PRC efforts to reform would influence the DPRK to move towards a similar direction.
“Japan-DPRK Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 23, US)

A DPRK freighter arrived at Osaka Port in Japan to transport the first 10,000 of 500,000 tons of rice aid to the DPRK.
“Rice Aid to DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, Japan)

The Hamkyongnamdo Institute of Sea Sand Import, a consortium of 10 Japanese construction companies established in 1998, plans to import sea sand from the DPRK to use for landfill.
“Japan-DPRK Trade Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, Japan)


3. PRC Naval Activities

The Japanese government plans to resume negotiations with the PRC to settle by the end of January the issue of PRC boats in Japan’s exclusive economic zone. The number of PRC vessels that have engaged in marine research operations in Japan’s exclusive economic zone has rapidly increased since 1998, leading to growing friction between the two countries.
“PRC Naval Activities” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, Japan)


Russia


1. RF-Japan Summit

Russia asked to postpone until March a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Russian President Vladimir Putin that had been set for late February, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono announced on January 18. Izvestia reported that this is a symbol of the failure of Kono’s visit to the RF. The Japan Times reported that disagreements among Russian government officials has led Russia to seek a month-long postponement of the planned summit
“Postponement of Japanese-Russian Summit Talk” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 22, Japan)
“RF-Japan Summit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, RF)
“Japanese-Russian Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 26, Japan)


2. RF Debts Payment

Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono expressed Japan’s concerns about the RF’s refusal to repay a part of its official debt. RF Deputy Premier Viktor Khristenko explained that there was “no international agreement” on payments due after 2000.
“RF Debts to Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, RF)


South Asia


1. India Military Hardware

Russia may be providing the PRC with the same Su-30MKK fighters it promised to exclusively sell to India. Cherian states that the PRC will be able to use these planes to gain air superiority about the same time that India begins to experience a shortfall in the Indian Air Force’s fighter squadrons, a shortfall that is believed to be developing because of delays in India’s Light Combat Aircraft program.
“Security” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)

An Indian Air Force MiG-27M strike fighter crashed in West Bengal, highlighting the safety issues the IAF is facing as its MiG fighters age. The Indian Navy will commission this week two new warships: the INS Mubai, a Delhi-class guided missile destroyer, and the INS Kirch, a missile corvette.
“Military Hardware” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)


2. India-US Relations

US Secretary of State Colin Powell stated during his confirmation hearing before the US Senate that he would evaluate whether to remove sanctions on India put in place after the Pokhran nuclear tests.
“US Sanctions” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)


3. India Unilateral Ceasefire

Citing recent militant attacks, including upon the Srinagar Airport, the Indian government decided to put aside consideration of passports for the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference team intending to visit Pakistan and instead evaluate Pakistan’s response to the Indian unilateral ceasefire. Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes said, “We expected Pakistan’s chief executive to rein in these groups which has not been done so far.” Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani stated that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) would review the peace process under the ceasefire and would consult with the Army and security agencies before making its decision. An APHC executive committee meeting resulted in no decision as to what to do next regarding the visit, but accused Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani and other Indian leaders of scuttling the peace process initiated by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee.
“APHC Passport Issue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)
“Recent Violence” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)
“Ceasefire” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)
“APHC Passport Issue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)


4. India-Pakistan Talks

An Islamabad meeting between Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf and Indian High Commissioner Vijay K. Nambiar is considered a positive step towards the resumption of bilateral talks. A senior official stated that the talks were essentially a reiteration of their basic positions.
“India-Pakistan Talks” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)

India and Pakistan agreed to extend a passenger and freight railway agreement for an additional three years.
“India-Pakistan Railway Talks” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)


5. Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka military spokesman Sanat Karunaratne stated that a fresh offensive has been launched against the LTTE. Sri Lankan Media Minister Priyadarshini Yapa stated that the government is amendable to peace talks, but first wants the LTTE to submit a substantial proposal. The LTTE has stated that they will not extend their one-month unilateral ceasefire unless the Sri Lankan government reciprocates and enters Norwegian-backed peace talks.
“Government Offensive” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)
“LTTE Ceasefire” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)


Nuclear Weapons


1. India Missile Test

India successfully test-fired its indigenously built Agni-II intermediate-range ballistic missile in “its final operational configuration.” This was the second test firing of the Agni-II, which is solid-fueled, has a range of 2200 km and the capacity to carry a one-ton warhead to any target in Pakistan and “deep inside China.” A Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman stated that the test posed a “direct threat to Pakistan’s security.”
“India Missile Test” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)
“Indian Missile Launch” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)
“Indian Missile Launch” (NAPSNet Daily Report, January 24, RF)

Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf stated that India’s recent testing of the Agni-II ballistic missile shouldn’t hamper the peace process, but said the testing should be an issue for other countries such as the PRC. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao warned Indian and Pakistan against pursuing a new arms race.
“South Asia Arms Race” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)


2. Russian Tactical Nuclear Weapons

A senior US State Department official said that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright raised with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov the issue of the reported movement of tactical nuclear weapons into Kaliningrad, which the Russian Defense Ministry has denied. In the summer of 1999, Russia simulated an attack against Kaliningrad in which its forces lasted only three days, and in which tactical nuclear weapons were used to demonstrate that Russia was not afraid of escalation.
“Tactical Nuclear Weapons” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)


3. Depleted Uranium Munitions

Jane’s online reported on the current dispute over the use of depleted uranium (DU) munitions by NATO during operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. The US, UK, Germany, Italy, and France each had statements on the issue. Jane’s Defense Weekly released two reports on the possible health effects and military utility of DU munitions.
“Depleted Uranium (DU) Munitions” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)


4. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Arms Control Today published the full text of John Shalikashvili’s report to President Bill Clinton. Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, was tasked by Clinton to review the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the 1999 rejection of the treaty by the US Senate.
“Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty” (NAPSNet Week In Review, January 12)


Security


1. Nuclear Risk Reduction

Analysts at an Islamabad Policy Research Institute seminar attended by a delegation from the India-based Delhi Policy Group stated that India and Pakistan needed to negotiate confidence-building measures to ease nuclear tensions in South Asia.
“Overview” (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.2 #4)
“India-Pakistan Nuclear Risk Reduction” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)


2. US Nuclear Policy

The Office of the US Secretary of Defense released its annual report on defense spending to the President and the Congress. The report reaffirms that nuclear forces and nuclear defense are critical elements of US national security and “will remain so into the future.” Theresa Hitchens, Research Director at the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), writes that the US must make an effort to conduct an in-depth review of the underlying nuclear policy because of the growing disconnect between current US foreign policy and its Cold War-era nuclear policy.
“US Nuclear Policy” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)


Missile Defense


1. 1972 ABM Treaty

Media reports indicate a consensus that incoming US President George W. Bush will likely withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty in order to pursue National Missile Defense, unless Russia agrees to amend it. Analysts stated that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is a strong advocate of missile defense, while Secretary of State Colin Powell will pursue NMD as one of many foreign policy goals.
“US National Missile Defense (NMD)” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)


2. NMD Debate in UK

William Hague, a leader of the incoming UK Tory government, would support using the Flyingdales base for the US National Missile Defense (NMD) system. A split is growing within the UK government and the Labor Party over UK participation in the US NMD system.
“NMD Debate in UK” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)


3. Patriot Antimissile System

Outgoing US Secretary of Defense William Cohen stated that the Patriot antimissile system failed to work as expected during the Gulf War. Cohen’s statement contradicts claims by the US Army and may impact future decisions over National Missile Defense (NMD).
“Patriot Antimissile System” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #3)

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