Daily Report Archives
Established in December 1993, the Nautilus Institute’s *N*ortheast *A*sia *P*eace and *S*ecurity *N*etwork (NAPSNet) Daily Report served thousands of readers in more than forty countries, including policy makers, diplomats, aid organizations, scholars, donors, activists, students, and journalists.
The NAPSNet Daily Report aimed to serve a community of practitioners engaged in solving the complex security and sustainability issues in the region, especially those posed by the DPRK’s nuclear weapons program and the threat of nuclear war in the region. It was distributed by email rom 1993-1997, and went on-line in December 1997, which is when the archive on this site begins. The format at that time can be seen here.
However, for multiple reasons—the rise of instantaneous news services, the evolution of the North Korea and nuclear issues, the increasing demand for specialized and synthetic analysis of these and related issues, and the decline in donor support for NAPSNet—the Institute stopped producing the Daily Report news summary service as of December 17, 2010.
As tariffs have been reduced by successive multilateral trade liberalization agreements, subsidies have emerged as a major issue in international trade policy. And as environmental concerns have been linked with trade issues, it has increasingly been recognized that subsidies can have significant environmental implications. In the past year, the issue of subsidies and the environment has been included in the work plans of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Trade and the Environment, the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development’s Intergovernmental Panel on Forests, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
1. DPRK Proposes Normalization with US
The Washington Post (Andrew Browne, “N. KOREA DETAILS CONDITIONS FOR FOUR PARTY TALKS,” The Washington Post, 4/25/97) reported that the DPRK has publicly announced three conditions to be met before it will proceed with four-party talks. The DPRK wants U.S. diplomatic relations, additional food aid and a lifting of U.S. trade sanctions. The DPRK is also reported to be encouraging the PRC to drop out of the four-party talks until its conditions are met. Clinton has reportedly asked visiting Prime Minister Hashimoto for Japan’s support in persuading the DPRK to proceed in the talks without conditions.
United Press International (“S.KOREA: NORTH’S PROPOSAL ‘NONSENSE’,” Seoul, 4/24/97) reported that ROK Foreign Ministry Director General Yoo Myung-hwan called the DPRK proposal for peace talks “nonsense,” saying that the DPRK is trying to “put an end to the issue of rice provision . . . and the lifting of U.S. sanctions against it.” (DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan had said earlier that the DPRK proposed a ‘three-plus-one idea , excluding China until US negotiators build “confidence” with the DPRK.)
The news release issued by the DPRK follows:
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Permanent Mission to the United Nations PRESS-RELEASE BY THE DPR KOREA DELEGATION (New York, April 22, 1997) In the meeting
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Presents a conceptual framework for understanding subsidies in the natural resource sector; marshals the evidence that such subsidies harm the environment, focusing on the forest and fisheries sectors as case studies; examines the ways in which natural resource subisidies are being treated in various international fora, including APEC; and proposes ways to integrate the issue into APEC’s work program.
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
1. US Statement on Peace Talks and Food Aid
US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns (“STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, APRIL 21,” USIA Transcript, 4/22/97) commented on the failure of the DPRK to agree to the proposed US – ROK four-party peace talks, and on the food aid issue that emerged as the chief stumbling block. Burns stated that the US has “responded successfully, quite vigorously” and “with some compassion” to the DPRK’s wish for food assistance with $25 million proposed by the US in the last two months. Burns added that the US has responded to every request for food aid to the DPRK by the UN’s World Food Program over the last two years, and that the US has been the leading contributor. At the same time Burns reiterated that the US does not “link food aid to these political talks for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.” The food aid is strictly humanitarian, not political, Burns said. Burns also stated that “the offer of four-party peace talks is still on the table.” [Ed. note: Excerpts from Burns’ extensive comments on DPRK- related issues at this briefing will be distributed in a separate posting.]
2. Hwang Jang-yop Arrives in Seoul
The Associated Press (“PAPER: N. KOREA SAID TO HAVE NUKES,” Seoul, 4/22/97) reported Hwang Jang-yop arrived in Seoul from the Philippines on Sunday, 67 days after defecting to the ROK Embassy in Beijing. Hwang is being held in seclusion, and on the third day of his stay is said to be more psychologically stable following a medical check-up. The Agency for National Security Planning quoted a secret report, said to have been written by Hwang in August, as saying, “North Korea is capable of scorching S
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
1. Four-Party Peace Talks Meeting Postponed
The Associated Press (“NORTH KOREA WANTS DELAY IN TALKS,” New York, 4/18/97) reported that the DPRK on Friday delayed the resumption of talks with US and ROK officials to discuss the proposed four-party peace talks. The parties were to meet Friday to continue discussion begun in a meeting Wednesday, but the DPRK delegation repeatedly asked for postponements Friday and then asked the ROK delegation to remain in New York one more day. “North Korea simply told us to wait,” said a ROK official who had been scheduled to return home Friday and spoke on condition of anonymity. “They said they did not get instructions yet from Pyongyang. They did not know when they would get instructions. They asked us to stay one more night.” After consulting with the US, the ROK delegation decided to comply. Earlier, a US official said the delay was not necessarily an indication of a major problem. “We understand they are consulting with their capital and that is not inconsistent with diplomatic negotiations,” a State Department official said, also on condition of anonymity. The talks Wednesday reportedly ended mired in debate over conditions for additional food aid, and by the DPRK’s request for assurances that the future peace talks would take up the withdrawal of US troops from the divided Korean peninsula.
2. Meeting Postponement and DPRK Food Aid
Reuters (“N.KOREA DELAYS TALKS,” Washington, 4/18/97) reported that the DPRK’s decision to delay the scheduled meeting in New York Friday may have been a response to the U
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Examines the current state of energy and electric power financing in Northeast Asia, scenario-specific capital constraints, innovative approaches, likely sources of finance for the Sustainable Energy Development strategy, and concerted unilateral or joint US/Japan initiatives which could address the regional financing needs of East Asian energy development, especially with China.
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
III. People’s Republic of China
IV. Japan
1. Four-Party Peace Talks Meeting
Reuters (“KOREA TALKS ADJOURN BUT ALL SIDES SEE PROGRESS,” New York, 4/17/97) and the Associated Press (“NO COMMITMENT YET ON KOREA TALKS,” New York, 4/17/97) reported that the meeting among US, DPRK, and ROK delegations in New York Wednesday to discuss the four-party peace talks proposal ended inconclusively, but with all sides reporting progress and optimism that issues could be settled in a second meeting scheduled for Friday. Negotiators refused to go into detail about why Wednesday’s meeting left the matter of the DPRK’s participation in proposed peace talks unresolved. Chief US negotiator Charles Kartman told reporters, “We made some encouraging progress. There’s still more to be done. We’ll meet again on Friday to see if we can continue these discussions and achieve what we set out to do.” Kartman said “there aren’t any real blocks” to DPRK acceptance of the four-party talks proposal. “At this point, what we’re trying to do is come to agreement about what the agenda and other details might be.” Chief ROK negotiator Song Young-shik, speaking after the meeting adjourned, said “we expect to have an answer Friday” as to whether the DPRK would accept the proposal, adding he was “hopeful” it would be yes. “We had a very good discussion … There was encouraging progress,” Song said. Kim Gye-gwan, the DPRK’s lead negotiator, also reported progress and said “maybe we can expect something for this com
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
1. US Announces More Food Aid to DPRK
The US State Department on April 15 issued the following press release (“STATE DEPT. ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO NORTH KOREA,” USIA Transcript, 4/16/97): “NORTH KOREA: HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. In response to an expanded appeal targeted specifically towards feeding children by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and after consultation with the Republic of Korea and Japan, the United States Government has decided to provide humanitarian assistance in the amount of 50,000 metric tons of corn valued at approximately $15 million for use in assisting the 2.4 million children under the age of 6 in North Korea who we believe are at risk. Flooding in 1995 and 1996 destroyed considerable farm land in the DPRK. This exacerbated North Korea’s chronic food production shortfalls, resulting in widespread food shortages and malnutrition. The WFP estimates this year’s shortage at 1.8-2.3 million metric tons, or nearly half of North Korean needs. The U.S. Government assistance will be in the form of PL 480 Title II Emergency Food Aid. Specifically, the U.S. Government will provide corn to feed nursery and kindergarten children under age 6. The U.S. Government has chosen the WFP as the channel for this assistance because of the WFP’s proven ability to monitor distribution to ensure that aid reaches those in need.” [Ed. note: Most major media carried stories on this announcement. Excerpts from US State Dep
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
1. US Announces US-DPRK Missile Talks
US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns (“STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING, APRIL 14,” USIA Transcript, 4/15/97) announced that missile talks between US and DPRK officials will be held in New York City May 12-13. “The focus will be on concerns of the United States regarding North Korean missile-related activities,” Burns said. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert Einhorn will lead the US delegation. Burns could not confirm Japanese media reports that say that the DPRK has already deployed its “Rodong” missiles. “We have concerns, not only about that missile but about various missile-related activity of the North Koreans,” Burns said. “We’re concerned about a variety of missile-related activities and various allegations that have been made. And that is why we have sought these talks with the North Koreans. I think we last spoke to them formally in April 1996, so it is high time for another meeting.” The missiles are reported to have ranges of up to 800 miles and are capable of carrying chemical, biological and nuclear warheads as well as conventional warheads. Burns also noted that DPRK, ROK and US officials will meet in New York City April 16 to discuss the proposed four-party peace talks, adding that although the US hopes that the DPRK will use the meeting to agree to the four party talks, “It is not at all clear that we will have a final response from the North Koreans on Wednesda
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In today’s Report:
I. United States
II. Republic of Korea
1. Four-Party Peace Talks
The AP-Dow Jones News Service (“N. KOREA TO ACCEPT PROPOSED PEACE TALKS THIS WEEK – REPORT,” Seoul, 4/14/97) reported that the ROK’s national MBC television said Monday that the DPRK has abandoned its demand for huge aid as a precondition for joining peace talks with the ROK and the US. The television station quoted government sources as saying that the DPRK will withdraw the key condition for accepting peace talks when its representatives meet with US and ROK officials in New York on Wednesday. The ROK Foreign Ministry said it was unable to confirm the report. On Saturday, the DPRK Foreign Ministry accused Washington and Seoul of using food aid as a political weapon, but added that food aid and the peace talks are “different things.” [Ed. note: Please see the following related item.] Such a decision by the DPRK would clear the way for talks on a permanent peace settlement for the divided Korean Peninsula to take place for the first time in 24 years. At the meeting this coming Wednesday, the US and the ROK expect the DPRK to respond formally to the joint US-ROK proposal for four-party peace talks, which would also include the PRC.
The Associated Press (“N.KOREA KNOCKS US, S.KOREA ON FOOD,” Seoul, 4/12/97) reported that on Saturday the DPRK’s official Korean Central News Agency quoted a DPRK foreign ministry spokesman as acknowledging that the country’s food shortage is “very serious,” but adding t
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