NAPSNet Daily Report
 
wednesday, january 5, 2000
Navigation
 
CONTENTS

I. United States

II. Republic of Korea III. People's Republic of China IV. Announcements
*  

Policy Forum Online:
"The Perry Report and the Future of Northeast Asian Security"

New:
Documents on Tokaimura Nuclear Accident


Browse Past Reports:
* Preceding Daily Report
* Daily Report Archive
* Search Daily Reports:


Email Services:
* Signup for Email Delivery
* Latest Report Emailed Now
* Send Comments
* Daily Report Credits


I. United States


next itemcontentscontacts

1. Italy-DPRK Diplomatic Normalization

The New York Times (Alessandra Stanley, "ITALY SAYS IT WILL OPEN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA," Rome, 1/04/00) and Agence France Presse ("TRAILBLAZING ROME PLAYS 'GRAY AREAS' BY RECOGNIZING NORTH KOREA," Rome, 1/05/00) reported that Italy announced on January 4 that it has decided to establish diplomatic relations with the DPRK. An anonymous Italian Foreign Ministry official said, "this happened as a conjunction of the West's need to end North Korea's dangerous isolation, and North Korea's need to feed itself. The West realizes that an isolated North Korea, with its nuclear potential and missile technology, poses a real risk. Italy has been trying to bring North Korea back to ordinary business for some time. But it is not an isolated policy; it is a widely shared strategy." James P. Rubin, the State Department spokesman, responded on January 4 by saying, "each country has to make its own decision on how to proceed toward a more normal relationship with North Korea, as North Korea meets the international community's concerns on the nuclear and the missile front." Giuseppe Sacco, a professor of international relations said, "Italy needs to play the gray areas. We are not a great power, nor a third world country, so we are condemned to this role." Italy was among the first to unblock 1.5 billion lire (US$803,000) in food aid when the DPRK reported its famine. The daily Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera commented, "The communist government (in the DPRK) will draw obvious political and moral benefits from this recognition. The advantage for Italy is less than obvious. The main benefit for Italy is symbolic. The government can claim that it is present, in the interest of peace, in some of the most strategic international areas: Algiers, Tripoli, Tehran, and today Pyongyang. It can state that Italy, since the 1996 elections and membership of the monetary union enjoys larger international esteem."

Agence France Presse ("N.KOREA FORGES TIES WITH ITALY, BUT PUTS BRAKES ON US, JAPAN NORMALIZATION," Seoul, 1/05/00) reported that the ROK and Japan welcomed Italy's decision to normalize ties with the DPRK. The official DPRK Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) said the decision to set up ambassadorial ties with Italy was taken on "the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty and equality." ROK foreign ministry spokesman Chang Chul-kyoon said, "our government respects the decision as Italy's improving ties with North Korea could help Pyongyang become a responsible member of the international community." Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki told a news conference, "It is very welcome that another diplomatic window for North Korea has been created," but he added that the impact of the move on the DPRK's ties with Japan was unclear. Professor Lee Joon-Hee of Seoul's Yonsei University said, "establishing new diplomatic ties with Italy is non-threatening to Pyongyang, while allowing the United States and Japan to get too close is extremely dangerous for the survival of the regime. It can afford to allow Italy in the door as Rome is unlikely to pressure Pyongyang on senstive issues such as rapprochement with South Korea and its missile programs."


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

2. US-DPRK Talks

Agence France Presse ("N.KOREA FORGES TIES WITH ITALY, BUT PUTS BRAKES ON US, JAPAN NORMALIZATION," Seoul, 1/05/00) reported that DPRK ambassador to the PRC Chu Chang-Jun said that the DPRK cannot send a delegation to the US under the present circumstances. Chu stated, "The government of the United States must withdraw its troops from South Korea, stop its interference in the affairs of Korea and stop threatening North Korea. Then we will not regard the US as an enemy." He also rejected the ROK's call to organize an inter-Korean summit. Chu called on the ROK to "immediately" suspend its joint military exercises with the US and Japan, abolish its national security law, and dissolve its intelligence agency.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

3. DPRK-Japan Normalization Talks

Agence France Presse ("NORTH KOREA DEMANDS COMPENSATION TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH JAPAN," Tokyo, 1/05/00) and the Associated Press ("NKOREA DEMANDS SOUTH SCRAP SPY LAW," Beijing, 1/05/00) reported that in a report carried by the DPRK's Korean Central News Agency, the daily Rodong Sinmun called on Japan to apologize for its colonial rule of Korea. The report stated, "If the relations between the DPRK and Japan are to be improved, Japan must sincerely apologize and compensate for the immeasurable misery, pain and disaster imposed by it upon the Korean people in the past and drop its hostile policy towards the DPRK. The improvement of relations between the DPRK and Japan would be unthinkable without this action." It added that Japan must "keep pace with the domestic and foreign pressure for the improvement of relations between the DPRK and Japan." It said that Japan's "liquidation of its past crimes is not simply confined to the apology and compensation. The point is whether Japan is willing to repent of its crime-woven past and turn over a new leaf or not and whether it will be qualified to be a full-fledged member of the international community or not. Any attempt to cover up its past crimes and go out for overseas aggression will only lead Japan to its ruin."


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

4. US-PRC Military Relations

The Associated Press ("CHINA, US RESUMING MILITARY CONTACT," Washington, 1/05/00) reported that anonymous US defense officials said Wednesday that the PRC has agreed to send Lieutenant General Xiong Guangkai to Washington to meet with Walter B. Slocombe, the under secretary of defense for policy, from January 24-26. The scheduling of the meeting has not been publicly announced by the US Defense Department. The meeting is intended to resume a US-PRC dialogue on military matters and to arrange for other high-level contacts, eventually to include visits to Beijing by US Defense Secretary William Cohen and Admiral Dennis Blair, commander in chief of US Pacific Command.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

5. Taiwan Election

The Associated Press (William Forman, "TAIWAN CANDIDATES DISCUSS CHINA," Taipei, 1/05/00) reported that James Soong, the Taiwanese Independent Party presidential candidate, criticized the Nationalist Party's new definition of Taiwan-China relations as being a "special state-to-state relationship" for damaging Taiwan's credibility and hurting the interests of its people.


II. Republic of Korea


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

1. DPRK-Italy Normalization

Chosun Ilbo (Son Key-young, "NEW NK-ITALY TIES PROVE SEOUL'S RESOLVE ON ENGAGEMENT POLICY," Seoul, 01/05/00) and The Korea Times ("ITALY, N.KOREA ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS," Seoul, 01/05/00) reported that with Italy normalizing relations with the DPRK, ROK President Kim Dae-jung's engagement policy was finally translated into concrete steps on the international stage. Italy, which has diplomatic relations with all UN members except for the DPRK, took the initiative by speeding up normalization talks. The presence of the DPRK's permanent representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) based in Rome, and Italy's popular socialist government, have also helped them accelerate diplomatic processes. One milestone event was a meeting in September between Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini and his DPRK counterpart Paek Nam-sun on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. During the meeting, they reached an agreement in principle on the need for establishing diplomatic relations.

The Korea Times (Son Key-young, "DIPLOMATIC TIES DON'T MEAN ENDORSEMENT OF NK REGIME, POLICY," Seoul, 01/05/00) reported that Italian Ambassador to the ROK Carlo Trezza said on January 4 that Italy's diplomatic normalization with the DPRK does not mean its endorsement of the DPRK or its policies, but signifies the start of dialogue on a better foundation. Trezza said in an exclusive interview with The Korea Times, "the establishment of diplomatic relations doesn't mean the approval of the regime or the policies. It is only a realization of the necessity to talk." Trezza stressed that Italy wanted to convey these messages "as high as possible and as clearly as possible." He also said that Italy's diplomatic normalization with the DPRK was based on its policy of having relations with all members of the United Nations. However, Trezza ruled out the possibility that Italy might offer some food aid in connection with its diplomatic ties with the DPRK.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

2. DPRK-Japan Normalization Talks

The Korea Times ("N.KOREA DEMANDS COMPENSATION TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH JAPAN," Seoul, 01/05/00) reported that the DPRK on Wednesday demanded wartime compensation and an apology from Japan as a condition for improved relations. The official Rodong Sinmun said in a report carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that, "if the relations between the DPRK and Japan are to improved, Japan must sincerely apologize and compensate for the immeasurable misery, pain and disaster imposed by it upon the Korean people in the past and drop its hostile policy towards the DPRK. The improvement of relations between the DPRK and Japan would be unthinkable without this action." Japan's government welcomed the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and the DPRK, but declined to say how its own efforts to set up official ties with the DPRK would be affected.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

4. DPRK-US Talks

The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, "N.K.-U.S. TALKS UNLIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN JAN," Seoul, 1/05/00) reported that an ROK diplomatic source said on January 4 that the US and the DPRK will likely find it difficult to hold another round of preliminary meetings for high-level talks this month. Observers speculated that the US special envoy on Korean affairs Charles Kartman and DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye-gwan would meet again sometime in January to discuss the visit of a high-level DPRK official to Washington. The rumors gained momentum after Kartman told Representative Yoo Heung-soo, chairman of the ROK National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, last month that his meeting with Kim would likely take place in January. The DPRK's hesitation sparked speculation among analysts that it may be hoping that the US will take additional steps to foster a more favorable atmosphere between the two countries ahead of the high-level talks.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

5. US Policy toward DPRK

The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, "U.S. AMBASSADOR EXHIBITS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM ON KOREA'S SECURITY," Seoul, 01/05/00) and Joongang Ilbo ("U.S.AMBASSADOR OPTIMISTIC ON KOREA'S SECURITY THIS YEAR," Seoul, 01/05/00) reported that US Ambassador Stephen Bosworth expressed a largely positive view of the security situation in the DPRK this year, pointing to political developments on the peninsula in 1999. "One of the encouraging things that happened during this time was KEDO (Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization) and Korea Electric Power Corporation's signing of a turn-key contract. This means that full-scale work on the light- water reactor plants in Kumho should begin in early 2000," he said. However, Bosworth was quick to warn against any excessive confidence, saying, "North Korea still remains a military threat and the road ahead is going to be very long and very difficult." He also expressed hopes that the DPRK will accept former US Defense Secretary William Perry's peace proposals. Bosworth dismissed the concerns by some ROK nationals that the US Republicans may take a tough stance on the DPRK if a Republican wins the presidential election in November. He added that any government in the US would carry out its DPRK policy with two principles - to respect the desires and wishes of the ROK and to maintain a strong military posture.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

6. ROK-DPRK Talks

The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, "S-N VICE MINISTERIAL TALKS MAY BE HELD AROUND APRIL," Seoul, 01/04/00) reported that a DPRK media outlet in Japan said that the ROK and the DPRK may resume suspended governmental talks in conjunction with the ROK's general elections in mid-April. The Choson Sinbo, the official daily of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, said on January 1, "North Korea is expected to again propose inter-Korean talks in February, to be attended by government officials, politicians, and civic group representatives, as it has done for the past few years." The paper also said that talks have yet to materialize due to the DPRK's demands. "This time, however, chances for negotiations are much higher, as the Seoul government will likely set aside its 'principle of reciprocity,' which calls for the two governments to accept each other's demands. South Korea will instead come to the negotiation table, mindful of public sentiment prior to the general polls," the daily said. It also added that as a counterproposal, the ROK could propose resuming stalled vice ministerial-level discussions on fertilizer aid to the DPRK and the reunion of separated families.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

7. ROK Policy toward DPRK

The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, "ANNUAL NSC MEET TO EXPLORE NEW N.K. POLICY," Seoul, 1/05/00) reported that the ROK National Security Council was to hold its annual meeting Wednesday to formulate a plan of action for the government's new DPRK policy put forth by President Kim Dae-jung on January 3. Officials said that the council would place top priority on pragmatic economic initiatives. An anonymous senior Unification Ministry official stated, "based on Pyongyang's New Year message, we have concluded that North Korea has begun to take a pragmatic approach in dealing with its rivals. The NSC's subpanels will discuss how the South Korean government can take similar chances."


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

8. Prospect of Korean Unification

The Korea Herald ("KOREAN UNIFICATION WILL COME AROUND 2025, HONG SAYS," Seoul, 01/05/00) reported that ROK Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Hong Soon-young said that if the government continues to pursue the engagement policy toward the DPRK, unification of the Korean Peninsula would occur around 2025. Speaking at the ministry's opening ceremony, Hong said, "I don't know exactly how unification will come, but it will surely come, in light of the recent trend to globalize. We have to foster democratic, cultural and diplomatic developments to prepare for unification, and consistently implement the engagement policy."


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

9. ROK-DPRK Economic Cooperation

The Korea Herald (Chon Shi-yong, "PRESIDENT PROPOSES DISCUSSIONS ON INTER-KOREAN ECONOMIC BODY," Seoul, 01/04/00) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung proposed on January 3 in his new millennium address that ROK and DPRK government think tanks should open discussions on the formulation of an inter-Korean economic community. Kim also urged the DPRK to agree to the ROK proposal to arrange reunions for families separated by the Korean War.

The Korea Times (Son Key-young, "INTER-KOREAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY QUESTIONABLE," Seoul, 01/03/00) and The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, "SEOUL TO PURSUE PRAGMATISM OVER POLITICS IN TALKS WITH PYONGYANG," Seoul, 01/04/00) carried editorials saying that ROK President Kim Dae-jung's proposal on the formation of an inter-Korean economic community looks like nothing more than repeatedly-made New Year's rhetoric. The papers also commented that although the proposal seems grandiose, it is just the revival of a moribund idea that was already included in the 1992 inter-Korean agreement on the promotion of exchanges and cooperation. The idea of an inter-Korean community was first mentioned in a unification formula of the late 1980s, devised by the government of former president Roh Tae-woo. However, the DPRK does not appear ready to accept the initiatives from the ROK. The authors also pointed out that Kim's overture is reminiscent of his recent proposal that the governments of the ROK, Japan and the PRC designate a state-run institute to study the possibility of creating a Northeast Asian community. In the meantime, a senior Unification Ministry official said that the government had not yet singled out an ROK institute to be commissioned to launch the studies, adding that it needs further study on the selection of its DPRK counterpart.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

10. ROK Aid to DPRK

The Korea Times ("SEOUL HAS NO PLAN TO OFFER FERTILIZER TO NK," Seoul, 01/03/00) reported that an ROK Unification Ministry official said on Sunday that the ROK has no plan to offer fertilizer to the DPRK unless there is a request from the DPRK. The official said that the press reports that the ROK is moving to offer 150,000 tons of fertilizer to the DPRK are "totally groundless." He reiterated the principle that the ROK would pursue "flexible reciprocity" in inter-Korean economic cooperation.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

11. UN Aid to DPRK

The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, "N.K. RECEIVES $580 MIL. IN U.N. AID SINCE '95," Seoul, 01/04/00) reported that according to a report informally drawn up by the ROK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the United Nations has provided assistance worth US$580 million to the DPRK since 1995. The report said that among UN relief agencies, the largest donor to the DPRK was the World Food Program (WFP), which has sent aid worth about US$530 million to the DPRK over the past five years. An official at the ROK Ministry of Unification pointed out that since the United Nations appealed to its member countries early last year to donate US$393.4 million in aid to assist the DPRK, only about half the target amount has been collected. The United Nations appealed last month for member countries to donate US$331.7 million in aid to the DPRK this year.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

12. DPRK Human Rights

Chosun Ilbo (Park Hae-youn, "FRENCH WEEKLY ACCUSES NK'S KIM," Seoul, 01/03/00) reported that the "Nouvelle Observateur," in a virtual article set in the future, named Kim Jong-il as one of six tyrants who would be tried in the future by a "Justice without Borders" tribunal in September 2048 for crimes against humanity. Alongside Kim were named Slobodan Milosevic, Sadam Hussein, Kyu Sampan, Theoneste Bagosora and Radovan Karadich. The virtual article said that the international judiciary functioned well and had indicted the six for the practice of torture and murder against their own people. The magazine praised the arrest of General Augusto Pinochet, citing it as an example of the increase of bringing those who commit crimes against humanity to justice.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

13. ROK Human Rights

Korea Herald ("HUMAN RIGHTS CONDITIONS QUESTIONED," 12/27/99) reported that the ROK Bar Association released its 1998 Human Rights Report on December 26, which said that improvements in human rights conditions during President Kim Dae-jung's first year in office fell short of the public's expectations. The report stated, "Three hundred and ten citizens were arrested for violating the National Security Law in the first eight months of the new administration. That figure is four times higher than the 67 arrested during the same time period under the Kim Young- sam administration." The report said that the figure betrays the administration's pledge to "not abuse the application of the law." It added that the government has not taken any substantial steps to remove or reform the National Security Law. The report also said that the current government has yet to overcome its excessive fear of Communism, citing the arrest of movie director Kim Tong-won for producing a documentary film about the 1948 Cheju Island massacre. It also noted that controversy over random police inspections on streets has not been addressed.


III. People's Republic of China


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

1. ROK-DPRK Relations

China Daily ("KOREAN SUMMIT EXPECTED BY 2003," Seoul, 1/4/2000, P12) reported that the ROK presidential Blue House said on January 3 that ROK President Kim Dae-jung expects to have a meeting with Kim Jong-il, leader of the DPRK, before his term ends in February 2003. Asked in an interview with Japan's daily Asahi Shimbun if he expected an ROK-DPRK summit, Kim said: "Yes, I think so. What I have to do during my term is to completely end the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula and to seek peaceful coexistence and exchanges between the two Koreas." He added, however, that reunification with the DPRK would be a matter for his successor to deal with, adding that the ROK could not currently shoulder the financial burden. In a separate interview with CNN, the report said, Kim expressed that it was important to be realistic. "I would not be too optimistic or naive in dealing with North Korean problems. I would use both sticks and carrots. If the North keeps its promises, then it will be helped. But if not, it will have to pay a painful price," Kim was quoted as telling CNN.

People's Daily (Wang Linchang, "ROK PRESIDENT PROPOSES INTER-KOREAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY," Seoul, 1/4/2000, P6) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung said on January 3 that his government will continue to promote conciliation and cooperation between the ROK and the DPRK. At a meeting on January 3, Kim said that last year the tension on Korean Peninsula relaxed and different kinds of exchanges between the ROK and the DPRK increased. The ROK will sincerely provide "humanitarian help" to the DPRK, the president said, adding that economic exchanges with the DPRK would be put into the framework of coexistence and co-prosperity. He proposed that "research agencies on national policy from the two sides consult for establishing an inter-Korean economic community." He called for a positive response from the DPRK, the newspaper said. The president also urged the DPRK to allow the reunion of families separated by the division of the Korean peninsula, the newspaper said, calling it a pressing matter that must be resolved this year.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

2. Across Taiwan Straits Relations

People's Daily (Chen Yan and Zheng Hongfa, "CPPCC HOSTS TEA PARTY TO GREET NEW YEAR," Beijing, 1/2/2000, P1) reported that a New Year's tea party was hosted by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing on the morning of January 1, 2000. PRC President Jiang Zemin pointed out that in the wake of the return of Hong Kong and Macao to China, solving the Taiwan issue and the final reunification of the Chinese sovereign territory have become more and more prominent in the eyes of all Chinese. It should be firmly believed that the Taiwan issue undoubtedly will be solved, said Jiang. According to him, Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's "two states remarks" was strongly condemned by all patriotic compatriots and did not receive any international support. The fact that Taiwan is a part of China's territory cannot be changed, Jiang said. He stated, "we adhere to the principles of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems,' and the eight-point proposals I put forward five years ago regarding expanding relations across the Taiwan Straits and promoting the process of a peaceful reunification remain unchanged." He reiterated that when conditions are mature, the two sides across the Taiwan straits should hold dialogues and negotiations on the basis of the "one China" principle. Any issue can be discussed, Jiang said, and the interests of Taiwan people and personalities of all circles will be abundantly considered. "We will take into consideration the different characteristics of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and Taiwan will be given plenty of flexibility to realize peaceful reunification of China under the 'one country' premise," Jiang said. However, he emphasized that the one China principle is the foundation of peaceful reunification. "We will not sit idle and tolerate any act calculated to split China, pursue the so-called 'independence of Taiwan,' or harm the fundamental interests of the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits," said the president.

People's Liberation Army Daily ("ARATS PRESIDENT EXTENDS NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS TO TAIWAN COMPATRIOTS," Beijing, 1/1/2000, P3) reported that Wang Daohan, the president of the Association for Relations Across Taiwan Straits (ARATS), on the eve of the new century reiterated his hope for final reunification of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland. In an article carried in the January issue of the monthly "Cross-Straits Relations," Wang expressed his wish as well as New Year's greetings to the Taiwan people. While reviewing the past century, Wang said that the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have endured a wide range of hardships to achieve the nation's independence and dignity, but the painful reality of the separation is "a regret of the century." The article urged the people on both sides to seriously consider, at the dawn of the new century, making a choice between separation and reunification, saying it is critical to the fundamental interests of the whole Chinese nation. Wang said that he believes that the Taiwan compatriots can contribute to pushing forward the relations across the Straits for the sake of the Chinese nation, even though difficulties still exist.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

3. PRC Reactions to Yeltsin's Resignation

People's Daily ("PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN EXPRESSES REGRET OVER YELTSIN'S RESIGNATION," Beijing, 1/1/2000, P1) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin sent a letter to the former President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, on December 31 to express regret at Yeltsin's resignation. "You have made unremitting efforts for the development of Sino-Russian relations during your presidency," Jiang said. "The strategic partnership we initiated together is becoming ever more consolidated under the painstaking efforts of both sides." "I am pleased with the cooperation between our two countries," he said. "And I highly appreciate your historic contribution to the development of the relationship between our two countries. I am sure you will continue to care for and to promote the development of this relationship." "I have got to know Acting President [Vladimir] Putin and I am ready to establish a good working relationship with him," President Jiang said.

People's Liberation Army Daily ("CHINA HOPES RUSSIA WILL MAINTAIN STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT," Beijing, 1/1/2000, P3) reported that, commenting on Russian President Boris Yeltsin's resignation, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said in Beijing on December 31 that the PRC believes that President Yeltsin's resignation is an internal affair of Russia. Zhu added that as a friendly neighbor of Russia, "we sincerely hope that Russia will maintain stability and development." Zhu said, "China believes that through joint efforts, Sino-Russian relations will achieve even greater success in the new century."


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

4. Japanese-Russian Relations

People's Daily (Yu Qing, "OBUCHI CALLS FOR CONCLUSION OF JAPAN-RUSSIA PEACE AGREEMENT," Tokyo, 1/4/2000, P6) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi respectively wrote to Russian Acting President Vladimir Putin and former President Boris Yeltsin to call for the conclusion of a peace agreement between Japan and Russia. In his letter to Putin, Obuchi expressed hope that the two countries will further promote the development of bilateral relations and closely cooperate to conclude a peace agreement in 2000. He said in his letter to Yeltsin that he hopes Yeltsin will continue to exert his influence. Those two letters were sent to Russia through diplomatic channels on December 31, 1999, the report said.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

5. Japan-US Military Relations

China Daily ("FUNDING FOR US BASES TO BE CUT," 1/5/2000, P11) reported that Japan's Asahi newspaper cited unidentified sources as saying that Japan will seek US approval this week for a plan to cut its funding for US military bases. Japanese Defense Minister Tsutomu Kawara was expected to meet with US Defense Secretary William Cohen in Washington to argue on January 5 that Japan's economic woes prevent it from maintaining its spending level, the daily said. Japanese Defense Agency spokesperson Kazuji Tanaka declined to comment on the report, although he said that funding for the bases will probably be a topic for discussion. Tanaka said that Cohen and Kawara will also discuss details of Japan's plan to move a US Marine air base to another site on Japan's southern island of Okinawa.


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

6. PRC Diplomatic Tasks in 2000

China Daily (Hu Qihua, "DIPLOMATIC GUIDELINES UNVEILED FOR NEW YEAR," 1/5/2000, P1) reported that during the year's first regular press conference on January 4, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao pledged that that the PRC will remain faithful to its independent foreign policy of peace; firmly defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, and resolutely push forward the peaceful reunification of the nation in the year 2000. "China vows to continue strengthening its relationships with developing and neighboring countries while maintaining a relatively stable framework of relations with the world's major powers in the year 2000, so as to build a long-term and stable international and surrounding environment for China's reform and construction," Zhu said. On Taiwan's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Zhu indicated that Taiwan may join the WTO as a separate customs territory of China, saying that the fact that Taiwan is a part of China will not be changed with the result of Taiwan's entry to WTO. When asked if the PRC wanted other countries to prevent Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui from visiting after he steps down in March, Zhu replied, "We oppose Lee Teng-hui visiting any country that may undermine relations between China and that country, and relations across the Taiwan Straits."


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

7. Pakistan's Attitude to CTBT

China Daily ("PAKISTAN IN NO RUSH TO SIGN CTBT," Islamabad, 1/5/2000, P12) reported that Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said on January 4 that his government is in no hurry to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). A national consensus must occur before the country signs, he said during a seminar examining the impact on Pakistan of signing the CTBT. Sattar added, however, that Pakistan would get a moral edge over its neighbor India if it is the first to sign.


IV. Announcements


next itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

1. New Publication

Routledge has published a new book by Dr Chris W. Hughes of the University of Warwick entitled "Japan's Economic Power and Security: Japan and North Korea." It is the first book in English that deals in detail with the issue of Japan- DPRK relations, and is based on the extensive use of Japanese sources and interviews with leading Japanese policymakers. For more information, visit the Routledge website at: http://www.routledge.com/routledge/


prev. itemcontentscontacts

2. Maps of DPRK Nuclear Facility

The Institute for Science and International Security, a non-profit, non-partisan institution based in Washington, has released two annotated satellite images of the Yongbyon nuclear site in the DPRK. The images are KVR-1000, 2- meter resolution pictures taken January 1989. These images, and many others, will be published in "The North Korean Nuclear Puzzle" (ISIS Press, Forthcoming). They can be viewed at: http://www.isis-online.org


The NAPSNet Daily Report aims to serve as a forum for dialogue and exchange among peace and security specialists. Conventions for readers and a list of acronyms and abbreviations are available to all recipients. For descriptions of the world wide web sites used to gather information for this report, or for more information on web sites with related information, see the collection of other NAPSNet resources.
We invite you to reply to today's report, and we welcome commentary or papers for distribution to the network.

Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with:
International Policy Studies Institute Seoul, Republic of Korea
The Center for Global Communications, Tokyo, Japan
Center for American Studies,
Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Asian Institute,
Monash University, Clayton, Australia

Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Gee Gee Wong: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Kim Hee-sun: khs688@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hiroyasu Akutsu: akutsu@glocomnet.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation

Chunsi Wu: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

Leanne Paton: anjlcake@webtime.com.au
Clayton, Australia

 
Global Peace and Security 
Program Northeast Asia Peace and Security 
Network DPRK Renewable 
Energy Project Nuclear Policy 
Project Non-Nuclear NATO 
Network Related Nautilus 
Projects NAPSNet Special Reports NATO Flash Nuclear 
Policy Update South Asia Nuclear 
Dialogue Nautilus Institute 
Publications Policy Forum Online Signup for Nautilus 
Email Services Nautilus Research 
Kiosk Send Feedback Global Peace and 
Security Program Staff Nautilus Institute Home Energy, Security and 
Environment Globalization and 
Governance Youth/Pegasus 
Program Digital Library Search the Nautilus 
Site