NAPSNET Week in Review 4 May, 2001

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"NAPSNET Week in Review 4 May, 2001", NAPSNet Weekly Report, May 04, 2001, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/napsnet-week-in-review-4-may-2001/

Korea


1. EU Visit to DPRK

Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson said that an EU delegation held successful discussions with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il on Thursday. They shared opinions of mutual interest that covered a wide range of subjects from that of bilateral relations to matters that concern the overall situation in Northeast Asia. Kim said that the DPRK will launch no ballistic missiles until at least 2003, and that he would “wait and see” if the US wants to resume progress toward better relations. He did not commit to ending missile sales, however. Persson said, “We have a clear message that Kim Jong Il is committed to a second summit” with the ROK. The EU team then flew to the ROK to hold talks on Friday with ROK President Kim Dae-jung.
“EU Visit to DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)
“EU Trip to DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)
“EU Visit to DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, US)
“EU Delegation in DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, ROK)
“DPRK Missile Freeze” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, US)
“DPRK Missile Freeze” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3)
“EU Visit to DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, US)
“EU Delegation in ROK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, ROK)
“EU-DPRK Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, ROK)
“DPRK Missile Sales” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, US)


2. DPRK-EU Relations

The European Union (EU) is likely to announce its normalization of ties with the DPRK during Assembly talks held in Brussels, Belgium slated to be held from May 14-15.
“DPRK-EU Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, ROK)


3. DPRK Military

DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il stressed strengthening the DPRK’s armed forces to make them invincible when he inspected the 671st unit of the People’s Army on April 25.
“DPRK Military Build-up” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)


4. Russian Arms Sales to DPRK

Russia plans to sell to the DPRK short-range anti-aircraft systems, SU-27 and MiG-29 fighter planes, unmanned Pchela-1 spy planes and radar that could monitor US and ROK military movements, plus some small naval patrol vessels in a US$50 million deal. ROK officials said that the defense agreement will not compromise ties between Russia and the ROK, as the accords are based solely on upgrading the DPRK’s aging military equipment.
“DPRK-Russia Arms Deal” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, ROK)
“DPRK-Russian Military Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)
“DPRK-Russia Defense Deal” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, ROK)


5. DPRK on State Terrorism List

The US State Department once again re-designated the DPRK as among the state sponsors of international terrorism, but noted that the State Department is engaged in “ongoing discussions” with the DPRK to get off the list.
“DPRK Listing as Terrorism Supporting Country” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, ROK)
“DPRK Listing as Terrorism Sponsor” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)

An informed source said that the US denied the DPRK’s request for visas to attend the Asia Development Bank (ADB) meeting that is to be held in Hawaii from May 7-11. There was speculation that the denial came even after the ROK government made a request to issue the visas.
“DPRK Participation in ADB Meeting” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, ROK)


6. US Reconnaissance Flights over DPRK

The DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report that US spy planes had conducted over 150 flights over its territory in April taking photos and conducting electronic reconnaissance and other espionage activities.
“US Spying on DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


7. US-ROK Policy Coordination

An ROK diplomatic source said that senior US foreign policy officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, will visit the ROK next month to coordinate US DPRK policies with ROK officials.
“US Envoy to Visit ROK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, ROK)


8. Kim Jong-il’s Son in Japan

A Japanese government source said that a man suspected to be the eldest son of DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-nam, and the two women and four-year-old boy accompanying him were expelled to the PRC on Friday after he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport from the Dominican Republic. Kim said that he wanted to visit Disneyland, but experts noted that he has reportedly traveled to Japan on previous occasions and has a strong interest in information technology.
“Alleged Trip to Japan of Kim Jong-il’s Son” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, US)
“DPRK Leader’s Son in Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, ROK)
“Kim Jong-Nam’s Illegal Entry into Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)
“DPRK’s Response to Kim Jong-Nam’s Detention” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)
“Experts’ Views on Kim Jong-Nam’s Entry into Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)


9. DPRK Famine

The Catholic international aid agency Caritas issued its 2001 appeal for US$3.2 million to combat the food and health care crisis in the DPRK. The appeal said that it was concerned that the diplomatic developments on the Korean Peninsula had created false perceptions that the crisis had passed. Thailand government spokesman Yongyuth Tiyapairath said on Monday that Thailand had failed to agree to a deal to sell the DPRK rice on a state-to-state basis. Hartmut Koschyk, head of the Korea-German Friendship Association, said that German aid would be cut off if the DPRK did not observe transparent distribution. Koschyk also said that the DPRK’s refusal to allow entry of him and his group through Panmunjom would seriously affect DPRK relations with Germany,
“DPRK Food Shortage” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)
“DPRK-German Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, ROK)


China


1. PRC Naval Deployments

A PRC military Internet site reported Wednesday that the PRC has deployed the second of two advanced Sovremenny-class destroyers it bought from Russia.
“PRC Naval Deployments” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)


2. PRC-US Military Relations

The US Defense Department retracted on Wednesday an earlier statement that it was suspending all contacts between the US and PRC militaries. Instead, all contacts between the US and PRC militaries would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
“US-PRC Military Exchanges” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, US)
“Suspension of US-PRC Military Exchanges” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)


3. PRC-US Relations

US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia James A. Kelly said Tuesday that the US will not forgive or forget the spy plane incident. Kelly told the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on East Asia, “We’re not going to conduct business as usual after our servicemen and women were detained for 11 days in China. Beijing needs to understand that.” Secretary of State Colin Powell said that despite occasional “ups and downs” the US had to remain engaged with the PRC.
“US-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)
“US-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, US)


4. US Spy Plane

The PRC decided to allow the US side to inspect its plane at Lingshui Airport once it completed its own investigation and collected evidence, in view of international procedures on handling such issues. US Defense Department officials said that US civilian technicians spent about four hours aboard the Navy surveillance plane on the PRC island of Hainan on Wednesday assessing the extent of damage. On Friday that US technicians completed their inspection and prepared to return to the US to report their recommendations on how to retrieve the aircraft. US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said on Wednesday that it was not yet clear whether the plane would be flown off the island or would be partially disassembled and returned by ship or air.
“US Reconnaissance Plane” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)
“US Spy Plane in PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)
“Downed US Spy Plane” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)
“US Spy Plane” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, US)


5. US Arms Sales to Taiwan

The PRC expressed serious concern on April 24 over reports that the US will sell a package of sophisticated arms to Taiwan. “China has consistently opposed the sale of weapons to Taiwan, and resolutely opposed the sale of Kidd-class destroyers, P-3 ‘Orion’ planes and diesel-powered submarines,” said Zhang Qiyue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson. On April 25, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing urgently summoned US Ambassador Joseph W. Prueher and lodged solemn representations.
“US Arms Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)

PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue said that the PRC appreciates the German and Dutch Governments’ declaration not to sell weapons to Taiwan and not to ratify any application to manufacture submarines for Taiwan.
“European Refusal to Sell Weapons to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)

Taiwan’s top diplomatic representative in the United States, Chien-Jen Chen, said that Taiwan is prepared to reassess its planned weapons purchases from the US if the PRC cuts its missile buildup.
“Taiwan Weapons Purchases” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


6. US Policy toward Taiwan

Admiral Dennis Blair, US commander in chief of the US Pacific Command, paid a secret visit to Taiwan earlier this month in what was the highest-level visit by a US military official to Taiwan since 1979. Erich Shih, a senior editor with Defense International magazine, stated, “It could mean a military alliance of some sort is forming between Taiwan and the US. It could also mean that the US military is planning to adjust its strategy in the Western Pacific region on the basis of the situation in the Taiwan Strait.”
“Alleged US Military Visit to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)

Despite US President George W. Bush’s pledge to do “whatever it took” to defend Taiwan, critics said that the US continues to treat Taiwan poorly. A just-released study by the US Republican staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee cites numerous examples of what it calls “petty and humiliating restrictions” that the US puts on Taiwan.
“US Policy toward Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


7. PRC-Australia Relations

Australian Prime Minister John Howard declared Australia-PRC links sound despite rising tensions. Howard also warned against exaggerating the significance of PRC concern over the intrusion of Australian warships in PRC waters and over his support for US President George W. Bush’s stance on Taiwan.
“PRC-Australian Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


Japan


1. Constitutional Revision

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi proposed amending the Japanese constitution to allow the prime minister to be chosen by direct popular vote rather than by the Diet. He also hinted at changing Article 9, under which Japan renounces war as a means of settling disputes and foregoes any offensive military capability.
“Japanese Constitutional Revision” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, US)
“Prime Minister’s Stance on Constitution” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)


2. Japanese History Textbook

A call by ROK Culture and Tourism Minister Kim Han-gill for Japan to revise its new history textbooks met with an immediate refusal by Japan’s Education Minister Atsuko Toyama. Japan’s new Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka said on Tuesday that she would try for a “soft landing” of the controversy.
“Japanese Textbook” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)
“Japanese Textbook Row” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)
“Japanese History Textbook” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)


3. Japan-DPRK Relations

Japanese government sources stated that the DPRK has asked Japan for 4 billion yen in compensation for victims of the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
“DPRK War Compensation from Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, ROK)


4. Japanese View of Missile Defense

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said that while Japan understands the US desire to deploy a national missile defense (NMD) system, it would urge the US to be prudent to avoid proliferation of such systems.
“Japanese Reaction to US NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)


5. Japan-Russian Territorial Issue

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi that he will pursue Japan’s claim to all Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.
“Japanese-Russian Territorial Issue” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 4, Japan)


South Asia


1. India-Bangladesh Border Dispute

Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General S. Basumatari reported that India had put its troops on maximum alert following a build-up of forces by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). Spokesmen for both countries’ militaries denied that there had been a buildup of their troops along the border. India’s BSF reported that demarcation of the India-Bangladesh border had stopped because the Bangladesh Rifles stated that they were unable to guarantee the safety of Indian survey personnel. Bangladesh Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina will meet with Indian leaders to discuss the border incident.
“India-Bangladesh Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


2. US Sanctions on India

Indian Minister of External Affairs and of Defense, Jaswant Singh, stated that he considered US sanctions against India, imposed after the 1998 nuclear tests, to be lifted.
“US Sanctions” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


3. Kashmir

Praveen Swami writes in Frontline Magazine that the ceasefire implemented by Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee is dead, but that the appointment of K.C. Pant marks a new strategy by the Indian government.
“India-Kashmir Dialogue” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)

The APHC stated that only talks that included Pakistan and the APHC, as the legitimate representative of the Kashmiri people, could result in a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue. Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party leader Shabir Ahmad Shah stated that he would discuss with “500 prominent people” for two days the central government’s offer of talks and take their suggestions.
“India-Kashmir Talks” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


4. Pakistan Anti-Corruption Statute

Pakistan’s Supreme Court ruled that several provisions of the military government’s anti-corruption ordinance were contrary to law, in what the Times of India is describing as the second recent blow by the court to Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf.
“Military Government” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


5. India-Pakistan Talks

News media in Pakistan and India are reporting that it is likely that the two countries’ foreign ministers will meet and talk on the sidelines of the upcoming SAARC meeting in Sri Lanka.
“India-Pakistan Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


6. Sri Lanka

An essay in Frontline Magazine by V. Suryanarayan argues that The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE) peace initiative was only an attempt to rebuild international support. The LTTE’s decision to not extend its unilateral ceasefire has led to criticism of the Sri Lankan government for not reciprocating with its own goodwill gesture while the ceasefire was in place.
“Peace Process Overview” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)

Sri Lankan Army spokesman Brigadier Snathi Karunaratne stated that the military had launched an offensive to retake Elephant Pass in the Jaffna peninsula.
“Recent Conflicts” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


7. Taliban Support of Terrorism

In an annual report on global terrorism, the US Department of State reported that terrorism against the US is shifting in its origins from the Middle East to South Asia. The report states that Afghanistan’s Taliban provides a safe haven for terrorists and that Pakistan continues to support the Taliban with materiel, intelligence and personnel.
“Terrorism” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


Russia


1. Russian-PRC Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with visiting PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jianxuan, both speaking highly of bilateral relations. The trade last year between the two sides was over US$8 billion, a 40 percent increase compared with the previous two years.
“PRC-Russian Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)


2. Russian Policy toward Asia

The Washington Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin is continuing to strengthen its ties with its Asian allies, despite strong US objections. Alexander Lukin, an instructor at the Institute for International Affairs in Moscow and now a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution, said that one force driving closer Russia-PRC ties was clearly a shared concern about US foreign policy moves.
“Russian Asian Policy” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


3. Russian-Indian Relations

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov is scheduled to arrive in India for consultations with the Indian government. The Hindu is reporting that this visit will occur shortly after anticipated statements by US President George W. Bush on US plans for missile defense.

“India-Russia Military Deals” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


4. Russian Nuclear Scientists

According to a recent report by Russian sociologist Valentin Tikhonov Russian nuclear scientists are woefully underpaid relative to what their counterparts in other countries earn. Jon Wolfsthal and Alexander Pikayev state in the report’s introduction that, “Their economic hardship dramatically increases the risk that they will be forced to sell their skills or materials at hand to the highest bidder.”
“US Nonproliferation Programs” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)


Nuclear Weapons


1. Indian Rocket Development

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) reported that the GSAT-1 experimental satellite put into orbit by the GSLV-D1 rocket last week did not reach a perfect geosynchronous orbit. Jane’s Defense Weekly reports that India lacked an appropriate third-stage engine when it was designing the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Russia provided India with its KVD-1, and India has since developed its own prototype liquid oxygen/hydrogen engine for the third stage, though the one tested had only one ton of thrust, compared to the 7.5 tons of thrust needed to put an object into orbit.
“India Missile Program” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)
“Satellite Launch” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #18)


2. US Missile Development

Air Force Major General Franklin J. Blaisdell revealed at a seminar on April 6 on Capital Hill that the US has begun exploration of a new “Minuteman IV” intercontinental ballistic missile.
“Minuteman IV Development” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)


3. NATO Nuclear Weapons

Belgian parliamentarians pledged to introduce a resolution calling for the phase out of nuclear weapons from Belgium. The move comes after the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Nuclear Notebook reported that the US Air Force plans to keep nuclear storage sites in Belgium and eight other NATO countries operational at least until 2018.
“Belgian Nuclear Weapons Debate” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)


4. Legality of Nuclear Weapons

New York litigator and former St. John’s law professor Charles Moxley, in his recently released book, “Nuclear Weapons and International Law in the Post Cold War World,” argues that “the use of nuclear weapons under established rules of international law is unlawful, even according to official U.S. and military documentation.”
“Legal Issues” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)


5. US Nuclear Strategy

According to administration officials and independent experts, the US is considering major changes in its nuclear posture, including slashing the number of strategic warheads, taking most B-52 and B-2 bombers out of the nuclear force and shifting some targets from Russia to the PRC.
“US Nuclear Strategy” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


Missile Defense


1. US Missile Defense Plans

The advisory committee on missile defense organized by US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is urging the Bush administration to continue funding the Clinton team’s limited ground-based system, while supplementing it with anti-missile systems based in the sea, on aircraft and in space.
“US Proposed MD System” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)
“US Proposed MD System” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)
“NMD Program” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, PRC)


2. Western Views of Missile Defense

The Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee sponsored a hearing on April 25, 2001, about US plans to deploy missile defense systems and the implications of their deployment for international security. US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Strategic Affairs Lucas Fischer said that missile defense “must be capable of protecting allies, friends, and deployed forces overseas as well as the United States.” The hearing also included participants from the Russian Foreign Ministry, and various US, British, and Danish universities and institutes.
“US MD Diplomacy” (NPP Weekly FLASH, V.3 #17)

The most favorable response to US President George W. Bush’s announcement that the US would build a shield against ballistic missile attacks came from Australia, which said that it would allow the US to use joint military bases in Australia for the planned missile shield. Great Britain and Canada issued statements Tuesday that stopped short of endorsing the plan, while Sweden, Germany and others expressed deep concern that the plan could jeopardize global security.
“International Response to US NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)


3. PRC Reaction to US Missile Defense

The PRC state media warned Wednesday of a possible new arms race after US President George W. Bush’s announcement that the US would build a shield against ballistic missile attacks. It said, “The U.S. missile defense plan has violated the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty, will destroy the balance of international security forces and could cause a new arms race.”
“International Response to US NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)

The PRC has begun planning to attack the US missile defense rather than defeat it with directly with more or more advance missiles. The PRC’s top arms control official Sha Zukang suggested that the PRC would concentrate on a range of relatively low-cost responses, such as developing plans to attack the radar network and communication nodes that would form the nervous system of the US missile defense sytem.
“PRC Response to US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, US)


4. ROK View of Missile Defense

ROK President Kim Dae-jung on Wednesday urged US President George W. Bush in a telephone conversation to closely consult its allies on the US plan to deploy a missile shield. Bush had called his ROK counterpart to brief him on his announcement that the US would press ahead with its proposed National Missile Defense (NMD).
“ROK Response to US NMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 2, US)

While Japan and the ROK reacted with official diplomatic politeness to US President George W. Bush’s missile defense plan, experts in both countries said that Bush’s proposal thrusts them unwillingly into a big-power dispute between the US and the PRC political. Military analysts in the ROK see the risks undermining peace initiatives on the Korean peninsula and embroiling Japan in a debate over its military role.
“ROK, Japan Reactions to US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, US)
“ROK View of US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 3, ROK)

Military experts in the ROK suspect that the ROK government is bowing to US pressure and has decided to participate in the US-led Theater Missile Defense (TMD) program in Northeast Asia. Citing a US defense agency document, the www.defense-aerospace.com website said that the ROK requested three MK41 launchers, which are designed for use with Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) as air defense armaments.
“ROK Military Purchases” (NAPSNet Daily Report, May 1, ROK)

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