NAPSNET Week in Review 27 July, 2001

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"NAPSNET Week in Review 27 July, 2001", Uncategorized NAPSNet Weekly Report, July 27, 2001, https://nautilus.org/uncategorized/napsnet-week-in-review-27-july-2001/

Korea


1. US-DPRK Talks

US Representative James Leach said that the Bush administration policy was one of reaffirming support for the US-DPRK alliance, and “endorsing the historic ‘Sunshine Policy’ of [ROK] President Kim [Dae-jung] with the explicit goal of encouraging progress toward North-South reconciliation.” However, Charles Pritchard, US special envoy for negotiations with the DPRK, warned at a hearing of the US House of Representatives International Relations subcommittee on Asia and Pacific that if the DPRK continues to resist inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the US could halt the construction of the two light water reactors.
“US-DPRK Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, US)
“IAEA Inspection in DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, ROK)

In a commentary by the country’s Foreign Ministry, the DPRK renewed its long-standing demand Tuesday that the US sign a peace treaty with it and withdraw its troops from the ROK. Senior DPRK foreign ministry envoy Ho Jong told the ASEAN Regional Forum that it was “sincerely interested” in talking to the US, saying that there “should there be a dialogue, it should be conducted on the basis of equality.” DPRK leader Kim Jong-il dismissed US fears over the DPRK’s missile program as “groundless” during an interview with Russia’s Itar-Tass news agency.
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, ROK)
“DPRK-US Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 25, US)
“Inter-Korean Cultural Exchange” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, ROK)

The US and the DPRK on July 26 accused each other of avoiding face-to-face negotiations. US State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said, “We await their response,” while a DPRK diplomat in New York countered, “The ball is in the United States’ court.”
“US-DPRK Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, US)

US Defense Department officials said on July 22 that its investigators are beginning a search for the remains of hundreds of US servicemen killed in the Chosin Reservoir area of North Korea in 1950.
“US-DPRK MIA Search” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


2. ASEAN Regional Forum

Foreign ministers at the ASEAN Regional Forum urged both Koreas to hold a second summit as soon as possible. Han Seung-soo, ROK minister of foreign affairs and trade, asked his PRC counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, for help in getting the DPRK back into talks with the ROK. US Secretary of the State Colin Powell said that he would meet with DPRK representatives despite the announcement from the DPRK that it would not send its Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun to the meeting.
“ASEAN Regional Forum” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, ROK)
“ASEAN Forum” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, ROK)
“ASEAN Regional Forum” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, ROK)
“DPRK-US Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, ROK)

The DPRK and European Union (EU) issued a joint press statement on establishing diplomatic relations at the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held in Hanoi, Vietnam on Wednesday July 25.
“DPRK-EU Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, ROK)


3. Kim Jong-il’s Russian Visit

DPRK leader Kim Jong-il crossed into eastern Russia on the morning of July 26 and was greeted by Russian President Vladimir V. Putin’s envoy to the region, Konstantin Pulikovsky. It is only the third-known foreign visit by Kim since he became leader. Kim and Putin are expected to focus their upcoming talks on economic and military cooperation and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, officials and analysts in Seoul said yesterday.
“Kim Jong-il’s Russian Visit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, US)
“DPRK-Russia Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, ROK)


4. Powell Visits ROK

US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Seoul Friday for a two-day visit to discuss the DPRK and other bilateral issues with ROK leaders.
“Powell Visits ROK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, ROK)


5. US-ROK Military Relations

ROK Representative Kang Chang-hee said that the US refusal to cooperate with the ROK in integrating US weapons and cryptographic equipment should it select a non-US platform is part of US pressure to get the ROK to buy F-15 fighters.
“US-ROK Military Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, ROK)
“ROK Purchase of US Weapons” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, ROK)

Military critic Kim Jong-dae, who cited a source from the National Defense Ministry, reports that the ROK spent a total of US$8.97 billion for weaponry purchase from the US for past 10 years in over 5,000 transactions.
“ROK Purchase of US Weapons” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, ROK)


6. ROK Electricity Aid to DPRK

Unification Minister Lim Dong-won announced Sunday that the government will use transmission towers between the ROK’s Munsan and the DPRK Kaesong City, 20 kilometers apart from each other, to aid the DPRK with electricity.
“ROK Aid to DPRK” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, ROK)


7. DPRK Domestic Conditions

New legislation adopted in the fourth session of the DPRK’s 10th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) approved a copyright law as part of the DPRK’s reform process. This is the first time a copyright law has been included in the civil law in order provide protection to the rights of the copyright holder, triggering hopes of some change in the DPRK’s individual rights.
“DPRK Claims for Copyrights” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 25, ROK)

Kwangmyong, an IT-related search engine developed by the DPRK’s technology agency in 1997, now connects computers of over 1,300 institutions nationwide. Photos of the homepage indicate it is based on Microsoft’s Windows system.
“DPRK Computer Network” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, ROK)


China


1. Threat Perceptions

A report prepared by the US CIA Strategic Estimates Program states that the PRC “views the probability of war to be declining with Russia, India and Vietnam, increasing with the US and Japan, and ever present with Taiwan and South China Sea regional states.”
“India-PRC Relations” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)


2. Colin Powell’s PRC Visit

US Secretary of State Colin Powell promised to deal with the PRC in a spirit of candor and realism when he arrives on July 28, after the PRC defused the latest Sino-US row by freeing two US residents convicted of spying. Diplomats and other sources reported that the US has formally protested to the PRC about continued exports of missiles and related technology to Pakistan and other countries despite a pledge last year to halt the trade. The topic is expected to be at the top of the agenda this weekend during a visit by US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
“Colin Powell’s PRC Visit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, US)
“PRC Spying Verdict” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, US)
“PRC Missile Exports” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, US)

Newly appointed US Ambassador to the PRC Clark Randt arrived on July 20 in Beijing and pledged to work closely with the PRC government.
“US Ambassador to PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


3. US Military in Asia

Analysts said that the US spy plane does not seem to have affected US engagement policy toward the PRC. Critics of the PRC among Republicans in the US Congress have fought a losing battle against the larger pro-business wing of the US Republican Party, which has lobbied hard for engagement.
“US Policy toward PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, US)

US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in an interview with The Washington Times that the US should keep a strong military presence in Asia to deter any future threats from the PRC.
“US Military Policy in Asia” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 25, US)


4. US-Russia Arms Talks

The PRC expressed caution Monday over a newly forged US-Russian agreement to cut nuclear weapons and maintained that any nuclear arms reductions must safeguard the current “global strategic stability.”
“PRC View of US-Russian Talks” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


5. DPRK Refugees in PRC

The number of DPRK refugees deported back to the DPRK by the PRC is sharply increasing as security forces have become more vigorous in hunting them down.
“PRC on DPRK Defectors” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, ROK)
“DPRK Refugees in PRC” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


6. PRC Policy on Taiwan

Taiwan’s leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party Wednesday halted plans to include a proposal, which calls for the formation of a confederation linking Taiwan and the PRC before any potential reunification, after objections from senior members.
“PRC-Taiwan Unification” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 25, US)

Taiwan Air Force Lieutenant General Abe C. Lin, director of the Defense Ministry information and electronic warfare directorate, said that the PRC is developing a variety of information warfare and electronic combat weapons in preparation for a cross-strait conflict.
“PRC Information Warfare” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


7. Taiwan-US Military Relations

John Bolton, US under secretary of state for arms control and international security, said that Taiwan could be welcomed under the proposed US missile defense system. PRC military warned Taiwan on July 26 not to join a cooperative missile defense with the US and Japan. The PRC’s official military newspaper Liberation Army Daily said that Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was “playing with fire” by seeking a military alliance with the two nations.
“Taiwan Role in US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 25, US)
“Taiwan Participation in TMD” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, US)

Taiwan’s China Times said that the US Defense Department will sell Taiwan the Joint Tactical Information Distribution Systems (JTIDS) worth US$725 million, which will be used to enhance communication links between Taiwan’s defense command and its fighters and warships.
“US Military Sales to Taiwan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


Japan


1. Japanese Role in BMD

Howard H. Baker, the new US Ambassador to Japan, said that Japanese participation in the US missile defense system may force it to consider revising the pacifist constitution that restricts its military. Baker on Wednesday expressed US desire for increased cooperation in bilateral defense issues, including Japanese technological input in the proposed missile defense program.
“Japanese Role in BMD” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)
“US-Japan Defense Cooperation” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 27, US)


2. US Troops in Japan

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on July 23 that he sees no need for the US and Japan to renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) governing US troops in Japan.
“US Troops in Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, US)


3. Alleged Spy in Japan

Japanese police spokesman said Tuesday that a Japanese worker at a key US air base in Tokyo has been questioned by Japanese police on suspicion of stealing restricted US military documents.
“Alleged Spy in Japan” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, US)


4. Japan-PRC Relations

Foreign ministers of Japan and the PRC held “frank” talks Tuesday on the sidelines of ASEAN regional forum. PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said “we talked about how to get relations on a good footing in time for the 30th anniversary” of diplomatic relations next year. Tang said that the PRC has not abandoned its anger over Japan’s refusal to revise school history textbooks and a planned visit to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
“Japan-PRC Relations” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 24, US)
“Japanese Prime Minister’s Shrine Visit” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 23, US)


South Asia


1. India-Pakistan Summit

During the Agra summit, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf reportedly presented Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee with a long list of demands on Kashmir, from recognition of Kashmir as the core issue and APHC participation in talks to the release of militants from Kashmiri jails. Vajpayee attempted to focus on issues such as trade and nuclear weapons. Pakistani politicians expressed that they had expected the Agra summit to fail. However, several analysts saw success in the ability of Musharraf and Vajpayee to sit across the table from each other and discuss their bilateral relations. Indian Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan later stated that the opposition parties backed the decision to continue negotiations with Pakistan. However, he said that the heads of most political parties insisted that the government have a more structured agenda for future talks.
“Summit Commentary” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)
“Statements on Summit” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)

Both India and Pakistan attempted to salvage the summit in its aftermath. Speaking after the Agra summit, Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said that the common ground reached could be used to continue the dialogue. India Minister of External Affairs Jaswant Singh said it was not a failure despite the deadlock and that the summit was a step forward. Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf agreed to meet three times in the upcoming months: in New York in September, in Kathmandu at the SAARC meeting, and again when Vajpayee reciprocates Mushrarraf’s visit with his own to Pakistan. Pakistani Ambassador to Russia, Saeed Iftikhar Murshed reported that nuclear safety issues would be high on the agenda of future India-Pakistan talks.
“Summit Follow-Up” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)
“Summit Agenda” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)

India and Pakistan again traded artillery fire across the line of control.
“Recent Violence” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)


2. Sri Lankan Constitutional Crisis

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga began lobbying members of her ruling coalition to support a referendum for a new constitution. The opposition United National Party is hoping to pressure the government through civil unrest to recall parliament after suspending it. The opposition parties have also begun to write up articles of impeachment against Kumaratunga.
“Constitutional Referendum” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)
“Opposition Protests” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)


Security


1. US Deterrence

Robert S. McNamara, former US Secretary of Defense, and Ambassador Thomas Graham Jr., president of the Lawyers Alliance for World Security, argue in an editorial in the New York Times that deterrence and the agreements that frame it must continue to be a factor in US-Russian relations because neither the US nor Russia has committed to the near elimination of their strategic nuclear arsenals.
“Deterrence” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)


2. Bush Perspective on Arms Control

Experts also worry that the Bush administration’s tendency to move away from formal arms control treaties sends a negative signal to other countries, and that Russia is already threatening to build a new generation of multiple-warhead nuclear missiles if the US pulls out of the ABM Treaty.
“Bush Administration Perspective” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)


Nuclear Weapons


1. Indian Nuclear Program

Indian Atomic Energy Commission Chairman R. Chidambaram reacted to claims that the Pokhran II nuclear test achieved a yield of less than 40 kilotons (kT). Chidambaram stated that the yield was near 60 kT, and that international estimates otherwise are mistaken.
“Pokhran II Test” (SANDNet Weekly Update, Vol. 2 #30)


2. US Nuclear Force Studies

The Nautilus Institute published a CD with copies of six previously highly classified nuclear force structure studies and briefings completed by US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) between 1991 and 1996. The CD also contains a 23-page summary report entitled “The Matrix of Deterrence.”
“Nautilus Institute Report” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)


3. US Nonproliferation Program

The Bush administration’s review of some 30 programs, aimed at helping Russia stop the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, has concluded that most of these programs are vital to US security and should be continued.
“US Programs in Russia” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)


Missile Defense


1. US BMD Program

Integrated Test Flight-6, the recent missile defense test of the interceptor missile and radar systems, was reported as a success. The US Defense Department acknowledged Tuesday that a prototype radar used in the test falsely reported that the interceptor had missed the dummy warhead, though several other sensors set up to monitor the test showed a hit. Defense Department officials were very positive about the interceptor test of the missile defense system, but they also were careful to point out that effective missile defense required significantly more research and development.
“US BMD Test” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)

Robert Snyder, executive director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, said the US Defense Department’s plan for expanded missile defense research includes the first-ever test of a space-based interceptor by 2005-06.
“US BMD Program” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)

US Senate Armed Services Committee by Paul Wolfowitz, the US Deputy Secretary of Defense, stated that ten years ago, Iran threatened US troops and allies with attack by ballistic missiles in the Gulf War, and that the US is hardly better prepared to meet the increasing threat from missile attack without increased investment in missile defense. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, after meeting with US President George Bush, said that Bush was wholly right to raise the issue of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to look for “new and imaginative solutions.”
“BMD Rationale” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)


2. Reactions to BMD Test: Russia, ROK

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said the missile defense system test contributes to a situation “which threatens all international treaties in the sphere of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation which are based on the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.” Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had no plans to act in concert with the PRC should the US abandon the 1972 ABM Treaty in order to deploy a shield against rogue rockets. Russia wanted faster responses from the US on setting up a framework for formal talks on its program to build an anti-missile shield and specifically wants an explanation as to why the US appears intent on scrapping the ABM Treaty. A DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the DPRK’s official Korea Central News Agency that the DPRK would take countermeasures in response to the missile defense test.
“Reactions to BMD Test” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)
“US-Russia Diplomacy” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)

A group of ROK activists protested ahead of US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s visit to Seoul, claiming it is only aimed at forcing the ROK to support the US missile shield plan.
“ROK Protest of US Missile Defense” (NAPSNet Daily Report, July 26, ROK)


3. Commentary on US BMD Test

There are numerous commentaries on the missile defense test.
“Commentary on US BMD Test” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)
“US Diplomacy” (NPP Weekly Flash, Vol. 3 #28)

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