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I. United States1. US-ROK-Japan Policy Coordination The Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State ("U.S., ROK, JAPAN JUNE 30 JOINT STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREA," 6/30/00) reported that the US, the ROK, and Japan concluded the Trilateral Coordination and Oversight Group Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 30 by releasing a joint statement. The statement said that they welcomed the recent agreement between the US and DPRK on plans for future Joint Recovery Operations, and the announcement of US-DPRK missile negotiations to be held July 10-12. They strongly endorsed the Joint Declaration issued by ROK President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, were hopeful that Japan-DPRK normalization talks would be held at an early date, anticipated prospective DPRK participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum, and reaffirmed commitment to implement the 1994 Agreed Framework. 2. Implementation of Agreed Framework The Associated Press ("N. KOREA THREATENS NUCLEAR RENEWAL," Seoul, 7/1/00) reported that the DPRK on Saturday renewed its threat to restart its nuclear reactors if the US does not compensate it for the loss of electricity caused by delays in building the two light-water reactors the US pledged to provide in the 1994 Agreed Framework. The DPRK Korean Central News Agency said, "If the issue of compensation ... fails to find a smooth solution, the DPRK will have no option but to turn out electricity by graphite-moderated reactors depending on its rich natural resources and its own technology." 3. Reunions of Separated Families The Associated Press (Kyong-hwa Seok, "S. KOREA PICKS FAMILIES FOR REUNIONS," Seoul, 7/5/00) reported that the ROK Red Cross through a computer lottery randomly selected 400 out of 75,000 registered names as candidates for possible family reunions. The list will be narrowed to 100 and released shortly before the reunions take place on August 15. 4. ROK Aid to DPRK The Associated Press ("S. KOREA TO SEND HANDCARTS TO NORTH," Seoul, 7/3/00) reported that the ROK National Council of Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement), a private organization devoted to rural development, said that it will purchase 10,000 handcarts with its own funds and donations to help rebuild the DPRK's agriculture sector. The council said that the decision came after its officials visited the DPRK to find out what the farmers needed most to rebuild. 5. US Troops in ROK Reuters (Janet Guttsman, "U.S. SHOULD KEEP TROOPS IN SOUTH KOREA, COHEN SAYS," Washington, 7/1/00) reported that US Defense Secretary William Cohen said that the US should maintain a military presence on the Korean peninsula even after unification. Cohen stated, "I don't think that we should consider pulling troops out of South Korea for the foreseeable future. I think our troops should remain there, even if there were to be a unification or some kind of federation, a confederation or whatever the political arrangement might evolve." He also said, "If we are to pull our troops out of South Korea that would call into question our deployment in other areas in the Asia-Pacific region and we might find ourselves in a situation where we have a reduced, if not a vanishing presence there which would have major implications for us." 6. US Troops in Okinawa The Los Angeles Times ("U.S. MARINE ARRESTED IN JAPAN ON SUSPICION OF MOLESTING GIRL," Tokyo, 7/4/00) and the Associated Press (Daniel Smith, "CURFEW SOUGHT ON U.S. SOLDIERS," Okinawa City, 7/5/00) reported that a US Marine based at the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa was arrested Monday for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl. Two other Marines were arrested last week after a scuffle with a taxi driver. Japanese Police Superintendent Keishi Shinjo said the arrests of the three Marines, who all appeared to be drunk at the time, renewed public calls for the US military to reinstate a curfew barring US soldiers from the entertainment district late at night. He said, "The timing of these arrests so close to the G-8 [Group of 8] summit has left many people shocked. These incidents all happened around midnight. The military must do a better job ... to keep control over military personnel during these hours." Marines spokesman Captain J.M. Plenzler denied that such a request had been received and said the Marines once again asked local police for permission to have uniformed, unarmed Marines patrol the entertainment district of Okinawa City at night to watch for misbehavior by soldiers. The US military lifted a curfew in October which has been imposed after three servicemen were convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in 1995. Lieutenant General Earl B. Hailston, commander of US Marine forces in Okinawa, said, "These Marines are my sons and daughters. That is why it hurts me deeply when any of my Marines appear to fall short of the standard I have set and demand. It hurts me, as it hurts you, my neighbors." 7. PRC Threat to Taiwan The Associated Press (Marcos Calo Medina, "TAIWAN: CHINA IS BOOSTING MILITARY," Lungtan, 7/4/00) reported that Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Tuesday accused the PRC of building up its military for an eventual invasion of Taiwan. He said, "In recent years, communist China has been vigorously developing its forces and weaponry and strengthening its military power. This makes its intention to invade Taiwan more obvious than ever before." PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said on Tuesday regarding the future of PRC-Taiwan talks, "The ball is in Taiwan's court. The Taiwan side should accept the one China principle as soon as possible. Only by so doing can the two sides resume discussions as soon as possible." 8. Alleged PRC Missile Sales to Pakistan The Associated Press ("CHINA DENIES MISSILE CHARGES," Beijing, 7/4/00) and the Dow Jones Newswires ("FEER: US-PAKISTAN TIES UNAFFECTED BY US- CHINA MISSILE ROW," Hong Kong, 7/5/00) reported that the PRC on Tuesday denied having assisted Pakistan's nuclear missile program. The latest claims surfaced ahead of a visit to Beijing by John Holum, a top Clinton administration arms control negotiator. PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said, "China does not assist relevant countries in the South Asian region in developing nuclear weapons or vehicles for delivering nuclear weapons." A senior Pakistani diplomat said that Pakistan is not a signatory to the Missile Technology Control Regime, and therefore the issue is one of defending a long-time ally in the PRC. Sattar said the PRC and Pakistan explained in 1993 that the PRC had supplied "a limited number of short-range tactical missiles," but since then, "there has been no allegation against China having done anything inconsistent with its commitment to the MTCR ... not only to the supply of hardware but also to technology." 1. DPRK Government System The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, "NORTH KOREA MAY HOLD RULING PARTY CONGRESS TO END MILITARY RULE," Seoul, 07/04/00) reported that, in its report on the DPRK's recent diplomatic changes released on Monday, the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS), an ROK government think tank, forecast that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il will seek to normalize the DPRK's ruling system by opening a Worker's Party Congress in October. Unlike the administration and the Supreme People's Assembly, the ruling party, led by Kim, chairman of the National Defense Commission, has remained inactive. Officials at the Unification Ministry in Seoul said that the DPRK will likely revise party regulations and reshape party organizations if and when Pyongyang reconvenes the congress. "The junior Kim has succeeded in reshaping his country's ruling system on the basis of Army-first politics, similar with the militarism Japan promoted in the past," the IFANS report said. It also offered that a DPRK decision to normalize its ruling system may have been behind its move to come out of isolation. 2. ROK-DPRK Red Cross Talks Chosun Ilbo (Kim Min-bai, "RED CROSS TALKS REACH AGREEMENT," Seoul, 06/30/00) and The Korea Times ("NK'S LONG-TERM PRISONERS IN SOUTH WELCOME REPATRIATION," Seoul, 06/30/00) reported that DPRK and ROK Red Cross representatives signed an agreement on Friday which will allow 100 displaced family members from both countries to meet on August 15 and the return of former pro-DPRK prisoners to the DPRK. In addition to the family members, there will be a head representative, 30 officials and 20 media members at the reunions. The meetings will take place simultaneously in Seoul and Pyongyang and last for four days. Prior to this each country will submit a list of family members so that their displaced relatives can be traced. After the return of former prisoners in early September, another round of Red Cross talks will be held to establish a regular meeting place. 3. Reunion of Separated Families The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, "ONLY 1 IN 800 TO MAKE CUT FOR FAMILY REUNIONS," Seoul, 07/04/00) reported that ROK officials said on Monday that about 85,000 family members separated by the Korean War five decades ago have applied to be among the 100 people going to Pyongyang around August 15 for family reunions. Between June 15 and 28, about 31,000 people applied for reunions, in addition to the more than 50,000 who had been on the "waiting list," said an official at the Korean National Red Cross. Even excluding applicants who applied twice and those disqualified for making erroneous applications, the chances of being included in the first reunion will be 800 to one, he said. The Red Cross was hold a second meeting for selecting visitors Tuesday to work out guidelines. On Wednesday, it was to pick out between 250 and 300 people by computerized lottery and notify the DPRK of the list for confirmation of the whereabouts of relatives of those selected, officials said. Key criteria will be the age of the applicant and whether they have children or parents in the DPRK, they added. The list of 100 finalists will be sent to Pyongyang July 26. The DPRK has already classified separated family members, said a senior Red Cross leader on Monday.
1. ROK-US Relations People's Daily (Gao Haorong, "ROK: ROK-US UNEQUAL TREATY MUST BE MODIFIED," Seoul, 7/3/00, P6) reported that ROK Prime Minister Lee Han- dong emphasized on July 2 that the ROK-US Agreement on the Status of US Troops in the ROK must be modified, because the agreement was unequal from the time when it was signed. Lee made the remarks when delivering a speech at the ROK Education TV Station. This was the first time for Lee to express his opinion on the agreement. According to relevant documents between the ROK and the US, the report said, the two sides should hold negotiations on the agreement before the end of June. However, the negotiation has not been held because of the delay of the US side, the report said. 2. ROK-PRC Relations People's Daily (Xu Baokang, "`THE NIGHT OF ROK-CHINESE TOURISM AND FRIENDSHIP' HELD IN BEIJING," 7/3/00, P4) reported that "the Night of ROK-Chinese Tourism and Friendship", jointly sponsored by the ROK culture and tourism ministry and the ROK tourism community, was held recently in Beijing. The first lady of the ROK, the ROK culture and tourism minister, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Zhao Nanqi, and director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Liu Huaqiu attended the activity. 3. PRC-US Relations China Daily (Hu Qihua, "US ACT TO CHECK ARMS NOT WELCOME," 6/30/00, P1) reported that the PRC urged the US Senate to scrap the China Non- Proliferation Act. The US Senate bill contains "wanton accusations and vilification against China" and interferes in the PRC's internal affairs, PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said on June 29. Zhu expressed the PRC's "strong dissatisfaction with and resolute opposition to the proposal," urging the US Government to stop it from becoming law. If it became law, Zhu said, it would set back PRC-US relations. In response to a reporter's question about Israeli sales of advance military technology to the PRC, which have been criticized by the US, Zhu said that no country has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries or make disparaging remarks about the development of relations between the PRC and other countries. 4. The Taiwan Issue China Daily (Yu Yilei, "TAIWAN MUST BACK ONE-CHINA IF IT WANTS OLYMPIC TIES," 7/1/00, P1) reported that Taiwan must accept the one-China principle to host any sporting events with the PRC's approval during the 2008 summer Olympic Games, which Beijing has applied to host. The PRC's Sports General Administration made the one-China comment on June 30 in response to Taiwan's proposal to help Beijing host the games, according to the report. Only by supporting the principle can Taiwan start negotiation with Beijing for possible cooperation, said administration division head Shao Shiwei. He said that the administration is considering talks with Taiwan sports authorities pending their support for the one-China principle if Beijing gets permission to host the games. "We won't allow anyone to use this issue to promote 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan' or anything detrimental to the reunification of the Chinese nation," Shao said. China Daily (Wang Rong, "POLITICS LEAVE TAIWAN TRADE TIES UNFAZED," Dongguan, 6/30/00, P1) reported that the PRC hopes to improve economic relations with Taiwan under one-China principle, Tang Shubei, vice- director of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, said this week at a trade fair. At the Guangdong-Taiwan Economic, Technological and Trade Exchange Fair, Tang said that advances are possible in cross- Straits trade, transit, direct mail and technological cooperation. People's Liberation Army Daily (Wang Weixing and Zhao Dexi, "REUNIFICATION IS THE ONE WAY GIVING TAIWAN SECURITY," 7/3/00, P9) carried an article saying that the real security of Taiwan can only be reached on the basis of the motherland's reunification. In history, the article said, Taiwan had never enjoyed self-determination when it separated from the motherland. The Taiwan authority is bearing a heavy burden of military expenses, the article said, adding that excessive military investment and weapon procurement certainly heavily influence the development of Taiwan economy. The article pointed out that Taiwan's economy is dependent greatly on foreign investment, and directly influenced by across-Straits relations. Hence, the article said, Taiwan's economy would possibly undulate at any time. After stressing that "Money Diplomacy" cannot help Taiwan to explore its "survival space," the article said, only a unified and strong motherland will forever be a reliable safeguard of Taiwan. 5. Alleged PRC Missile Sales to Pakistan China Daily (Shao Zongwei, "CHINA DISMISSES MISSILE ALLEGATION," 7/5/00, P2) reported that the PRC on July 4 denied that it has helped Pakistan develop long-range missiles. "I want to state clearly that there have been no Chinese sales of missile technology to Pakistan," said PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi at a regular briefing. "The reports on this are totally groundless and stem from ulterior motives." Sun said that the PRC has abided by the joint communique issued by the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in 1998 and the UN Security Council Resolution No 1172. "We are not helping any South Asian country develop nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear weapons," said Sun. 6. PRC-Russian-Central Asian Meeting People's Daily (Hu Qihua, "FMS SIGN A JOINT COMMUNIQUE," Dushanbe, 7/5/00, P6) reported that the foreign ministers of the PRC, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on July 4 called for strict compliance with the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty. In the joint communique signed by the five foreign ministers, the parties indicated that the establishment of bloc and confining missile defense systems would destroy the peace and stability in the Asian Pacific region. The parties agreed that the establishment of a cooperative mechanism would promote regional stability and development and have decided to hold a regular meeting every year, the report said. In the joint communique, the five foreign ministers proposed that the nations continue to work together to guarantee regional security, crackdown on religious extremism and ethnic separatism, and combat international terrorist activities. The parties expressed their concern over the revival of hegemony and power politics, emphasizing the importance of upholding the authority of the UN and promoting the establishment of a just international political and economic order, the report said.
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