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thursday, october 18, 2001
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CONTENTS

I. United States

II. Republic of Korea III. Japan IV. Russian Federation
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I. United States

1. ROK Response to US Views on Inter-Korean Relations

Reuters (Paul Eckert, "KOREAS SILENT ON BUSH REMARKS AS KIM HEADS TO APEC," Seoul, 10/18/01) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung flew to the PRC on Thursday for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, leaving behind a frustrating stalemate in ties with the DPRK. Kim declined to comment on US President George W. Bush's sharply worded remarks on the DPRK on October 16. Bush's remarks were given prominent play in the ROK media, but the government declined to comment on them. However, an ROK government source called the Bush statement "a message of strong support for Seoul and for Kim Dae-jung," who has taken a sterner line on the DPRK. Kim told the US daily USA Today on October 16 that, "the government as well as the Korean people are very much frustrated and critical of the fact that the North Koreans have continuously, unilaterally reneged on their promises."

2. US Sanctions on PRC

The Washington Post (Steven Mufson, "CHINA SANCTIONS STAND, U.S. SAYS," 10/18/01) reported that the US Bush administration on October 17 ruled out any move at present to allow the sale of spare parts for US-made Black Hawk helicopters the PRC bought in 1984, but it did not rule out the possibility of issuing a limited waiver of the sanctions imposed on the PRC after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. US White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "The United States government is not deliberating a waiver of Tiananmen sanctions to sell spare parts for China's fleet of S-70C Black Hawk helicopters. The sanctions remain in place. There is no quid pro quo on assistance that China may be giving in our counter-terrorism efforts, intelligence or otherwise." However, US government sources said the administration was still considering whether to supply types of equipment of a non-offensive nature. Those items might include equipment to be used by PRC forces for public security or for defending against chemical or other terrorist attacks, or for use in defusing unexploded ordinance. Because these items are handled by the military or security forces in the PRC, they are subject to the Tiananmen sanctions and would require a US waiver. US State Department spokesman Philip T. Reeker said, "Waiving sanctions would require, as you know, a presidential determination. The doing so would be in the national interest. And so sanctions have been waived in the past, sanctions may be waived in the future, but I don't have anything to announce in terms of any particular plans." [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]

3. PRC and Counter-Terrorism

The Washington Post (John Pomfret, "IN ITS OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, CHINA EMERGES AS LEADER," Beijing, 10/18/01) reported that last year, the PRC forged a regional pact against terrorism, drug-running and Islamic radicalism. It now aids military and security services in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In June, the PRC said it would even consider joint operations against terrorism - a major break with its past policies, which rejected even a hint of joint military action. The moves are part of a bold foreign policy agenda that is transforming PRC relations with its neighbors. According to government officials and others who study PRC policy, the country's assertiveness reflects a profound shift in its approach to foreign relations. Unlike its old concerns with "war and revolution," in the words of its first leader, the PRC's new concerns are said to be threefold: securing its borders: meeting massive demands for food, oil, wood and other natural resources; and uniting the mainland with Taiwan. Askar Aitmatov, foreign affairs adviser to Askar Akayev, the president of Kyrgyzstan, said, "Unlike the former Soviet Union, China does historic transformations quietly, without a fuss. China is now an active participant in security and cooperative agreements outside its own borders. That is a serious change." PRC policy, and its current support for the US war against terrorism, turn on the notion that terrorism's defeat in Central Asia will help it solve one of the oldest problems faced by its empire: how to pacify Xinjiang and Tibet. As in the Pacific, PRC ambitions in Central Asia are also partly a response to US policy. For years, US moves there have provoked worry in the PRC. When the 82nd Airborne Division flew to Kazakhstan for exercises in 1997, PRC security experts said it was a wake-up call. PRC scholar Min wrote in a recent issue of the Chinese publication World Affairs, "In order to realize its goal of a unipolar world, the United States continues to penetrate the countries in Central Asia formerly controlled by the Soviet Union." He added that a main goal of US security policy was to "limit the growth of China's influence and ensure that China's growing power did not upset the present power balance in the region." Ma warned specifically about what he termed a US gambit to influence Mongolia. Some analysts see the PRC's expanding influence as an echo of the imperial role it played in Asia over thousands of years. At the same time, however, many Chinese thinkers are troubled by what they see as a lack of values or overall purpose in modern PRC foreign policy. One senior government adviser said, "We still don't stand for anything. We are not a democracy, we're not communist. We're just big." [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]

4. Editorial on New Sino-US Relations

The Washington Post published an editorial ("CHINA AND COUNTERTERRORISM," 10/18/01)which said the US relationship with the PRC has changed almost as dramatically as that with Russia since September 11, and for some of the same reasons. The article said that "public prickliness has disappeared" as the PRC showed support for the US campaign against terrorism and even the bombing in Afghanistan - the first time the PRC has supported a US military action since the end of the Cold War. In return, the article continued, "China, like Russia, expects new understanding for its brutal repression of a Muslim minority, the Uighurs, on the grounds that it is also counter-terrorism." It noted that although PRC support in Central Asia could be important, "once again the administration appears in danger of going too far, allowing the cause of counter-terrorism to dominate a relationship with other vital US interests." Those interests include, the editorial said, curtailment of PRC sales of missiles and nuclear materials, defense of Taiwan's democracy against an aggressive PRC military buildup and promotion within the PRC of greater freedom and human rights. The article continued to say that "any association with China's repression of Muslims could do serious and unnecessary damage to the Bush administration's larger political struggle for Muslim support against radical Islam." Therefore, the article concluded, "Mr. Bush can best serve the battle against Islamic extremists by making clear that he will not support the persecution of Muslims, in China or anywhere else." [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]

5. PRC Air-Defense Work in Iran

The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, "CHINA STEPS UP AIR-DEFENSE WORK ON IRAN'S BORDER FEARS," 10/18/01) reported that according to US intelligence officials, the PRC is stepping up construction of an air-defense system in Iran near the border with Afghanistan as Tehran fears US military operations will spill over into its borders. U.S. intelligence officials said work by PRC technicians on an advanced radar system known as JY-14 was detected near Iran's border with Afghanistan in the past week. A second intelligence official said, "The Chinese have been involved in helping Iran build air defenses for some time" and added that the work did not appear to violate arms protocols. A US Bush administration official said PRC military cooperation with Iran could lead to US sanctions, although air-defense radar work is only one of several areas under scrutiny. The JY-14 is a sophisticated radar that provides long-range surveillance of aircraft and missiles as part of an automated air-defense system. It can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and feed the data to missile-interceptor batteries. It can track targets flying as high as 75,000 feet and 186 miles in distance. [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]


II. Republic of Korea

1. US-DPRK Relations

The Korea Herald ("HUBBARD WELCOMES N.K. STANCE ON TERROR," Seoul, 10/18/01) reported that the US ambassador to Seoul, Thomas Hubbard, on October 17 welcomed DPRK's recent criticism of terrorism, and said that he wants the DPRK to join the international coalition to fight terrorism. In an interview with KBS television, Hubbard said that the proposed US-DPRK talks will also deal with the terrorism issue. He reiterated the US position that the US is ready to meet DPRK officials at any time and any place without any preconditions.

Joongang Ilbo (Kim Hee-sung, "BUSH GIVES OUT STRONG WARNING TO NORTH KOREA," Seoul, 10/16/01) reported that on October 17, US President George W. Bush warned the DPRK not to take advantage of the current war situation against terrorism to threaten its ally, the ROK. The remark comes as the strongest one President Bush made toward the DPRK since taking office. Bush said in an interview with Asian editors, "North Korea should not in any way, shape or form think that because we happened to be engaged in Afghanistan we will not be prepared and ready to fulfill our end of our agreement with the South Korean government. Not only will we have troops there and have them there, we will be prepared to defend and stand side-by-side with our longtime friend, the South Korean people." Although Bush acknowledged ROK President Kim Dae-jung's great patience and persistent efforts to recognize national reunification of the two Koreas, he also pointed out that it is apparent DPRK leader hardly shares that same passion. President Bush also reiterated that the DPRK hasn't been responding to US calls to resume dialogue without preconditions since June this year, and has also been failing to keep up with their promise of a return visit to Seoul.

2. Inter-Korean Summit

Joongang Ilbo ("KIM JONG-IL WANTS SECOND INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT, RUSSIAN ENVOY SAYS," Seoul, 10/17/01) reported that a Russian presidential envoy said on October 16 that National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il wants to hold summit talks with President Kim Dae-jung and that the DPRK leader's visit to Seoul will be realized. Konstantin Pulikovski, the Russian presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District said, "Chairman Kim thought highly of the first summit talks with President Kim and made remarks about the inter-Korean relationship several times during his visit to Russia (in August)." Mr. Pulikovski also well known for accompanying Chairman Kim in his train trip to Russia from July 26 - Aug. 18 said the reason for his taking such a slow route to reach Moscow was to make close observation of the overall change in Russia since the collapse of its communist system.

3. EU Aid to DPRK

Joongang Ilbo ("N.K. CHILDREN TO RECEIVE CLOTHES AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM EU," Seoul, 10/17/01) reported that the European Union (EU) decided to send clothing and other medical supplies to children in the DPRK. The EU Commission's statement said that it would send supplies in order to protect young DPRK children from the harsh conditions of cold and poverty. Partially blaming natural disaster for intensifying the suffering of the DPRK, the Commission also disclosed that the latest aids aim toward 74,000 infants and primary school children of the four provinces.


III. Japan

1. The US Views on the DPRK

Korean Broadcasting System ("THOMAS HUBBARD WANTS THE NORTH TO JOIN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM," 10/18/01) and Yomiuri Shinbun ("A FULL REPORT OF MEETING WITH GEORGE W. BUSH," 10/18/01, 9) reported that US ambassador to the ROK, Thomas Hubbard said on Wednesday that the US wants the DPRK to join the US-led anti-terrorism campaign, adding that the US is ready to hold talks with the DPRK to discuss issues related to terrorism including the removal of the DPRK from the list of nations supporting terrorism. In an interview with the KBS TV, Hubbard demanded the DPRK take further steps against terrorism beyond just issuing a statement, although Hubbard welcomed the anti-terrorism statement made by the DPRK. Hubbard also said he sincerely wishes for Kim Jong Il's return visit to Seoul. With regard to the US military in the ROK soil, although admitting significantly reduced possibility of invading the ROK by the DPRK, Hubbard said, referring to the DPRK's capability to thrust into the ROK, that the US hopes to have its troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula even after unification. The US president, George W. Bush also emphasized the US force presence in the Korean Peninsula after unification in the exclusive joint interview with Junichi Hayakawa, managing editor of the Yomiuri Shinbun, and two representatives from People's Daily of the PRC and Yonhap News of the ROK.

2. Japanese Prime Minister's visit to the ROK

Financial Times (Alexandra Harney and Andrew Ward, "KOIZUMI SEEKS TO REASSURE S KOREA," Tokyo and Seoul, 10/16/01, 16) reported that Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese prime minister, sought on October 15 to smooth over difference with the ROK ahead of this weekend's Asia-Pacific economic summit in Shanghai. After a visit to a museum that chronicles the Japan's colonial rule, Mr.Koizumi said that "I looked at exhibitions, facilities and traces of torture with heartfelt remorse and apology for the tremendous damage and suffering Japan caused the South Korean people through its colonial rule." Mr.Koizumi's visit to China and the ROK has not produced any visible progress in resolving issues that has complicated Japan's relations with its neighbors. On the other hand, the trips have given the impression that the PRC and the ROK do no oppose Mr.Koizumi's plan to allow the Self-Defense Forces to help the US war effort, the article said. However, the continued anti-Japanese feeling in the ROK was demonstrated by hundreds of protesters who gathered in Seoul shouting abusive statements at Mr.Koizumi. Opposition politicians and media commentators dismissed the talks between Mr.Koizumi and Kim Dae Jung as a failure, citing a lack of concrete proposals to improve relations, although officials said that the meeting heralded a new era of friendship between the two neighbors, which are to co-host next June's soccer World Cup finals.

3. Japan's Role in Afghanistan

Yomiuri Shinbun (Fumiya Akagi, "KOMURA PROPOSES TOKYO AS VENUE FOR PEACE TALKS," 10/14/01) reported that former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura retuned home last week after visiting Saudi Arabia and Iran. As a prime minister's special envoy, Mr. Komura held talks with leaders of the two key Middle Eastern nations to discuss and seek their understanding of Japan's participation in the US-led anti-terrorism campaign. In an exclusive interview with Yomiuri Shinbun, Mr. Komura responded to the question on Japan's commitment to the rehabilitation of Afghanistan after completion of the military campaign, saying that "Ever since I was foreign minister, I'd said Tokyo was willing to host talks to restore peace in Afghanistan once Afghans of all social circles and strata were inclined to make peace with each other and that I am still proposing Tokyo as a venue." Mr. Komura added, "(Iranian) President Khatami told me he highly rated the fact that Japan was taking into consideration efforts to rehabilitate Afghanistan."

Yomiuri Shinbun (JAPAN'S ROLE FOR POST-TALIBAN, 10/18/01, 3) reported that Japan's Prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, will propose to US president George W. Bush, during summit talks in Shanghai, that post-Taliban peace conference on Afghanistan be held in Tokyo.


IV. Russian Federation

1. RF-ROK Defense Contacts

Krasnaya Zvezda ("KOREANS WILL VISIT DVO [FAREASTERN MILITARY DISTRICT]", Moscow, 14/10/01) reported that on a ROK military delegation led by Major General Kim Ujon-Tae, Chief of Land Forces Combat Training Directorate, would visit the Far eastern Military District (DVO) for the first time visit from October 14-19. The delegation consists of senior officers of directorates of combat training and external relations. DVO Commader Colonel General Yuriy Yakubovskiy will have an official meeting with the ROK delegation. The delegation will meet with DVO unit commanders and visit a testing site while tactical exercises with live ammo firing will take place. An exchange of combat training experience will take place as well.

Kommersant (Igor Safronov, "RUSSIAN INCREASES MILITARY [PRESENCE IN SOUTH KOREA," Moscow, 10/16/01) reported that the Third Korea Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (KA&DE) opened in Seoul on October 16. The RF is represented by over 20 enterprises led by "Sukhoi" Design Bureau, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft-Making Association, as well as such companies as BETAIR, "Airspace Equipment" and "Rosoboronexport." The RF will try to show their produce to expand its presence in ROK arms market. RF-made helicopters already account for 42 percent of total procurements for the ROK public sector. Besides ROK plans to have RF debt paid by additional deliveries of RF-made T-80U tanks and BMP-3 infantry combat vehicles, there is also work underway to make a contract to deliver RF-made "Metis-M" anti-tank complexes to ROK.

2. DPRK Hit By Floods

Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Nikolai Ostorov, "FLOODS IN NORTH KOREA", Moscow, 16/10/01) reported at least 80 people died, 27 missing, and 83 seriously wounded as a result of floods hitting DPRK last week. According to Reuters, practically all victims lived in Kanwondo province. The floods were caused by continuing rains non-stopping since October 9.

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In today's Report:

I. United States 1. ROK Response to US Views on Inter-Korean Relations 2. US Sanctions on PRC 3. PRC and Counter-Terrorism 4. Editorial on New Sino-US Relations 5. PRC Air-Defense Work in Iran II. Republic of Korea 1. US-DPRK Relations 2. Inter-Korean Summit 3. EU Aid to DPRK III. Japan 1. The US Views on the DPRK 2. Japanese Prime minister's visit to the ROK 3. Japan's Role in Afghanistan IV. Russian Federation 1. RF-ROK Defense Contacts 2. DPRK Hit By Floods


I. United States


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1. ROK Response to US Views on Inter-Korean Relations

Reuters (Paul Eckert, "KOREAS SILENT ON BUSH REMARKS AS KIM HEADS TO APEC," Seoul, 10/18/01) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung flew to the PRC on Thursday for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, leaving behind a frustrating stalemate in ties with the DPRK. Kim declined to comment on US President George W. Bush's sharply worded remarks on the DPRK on October 16. Bush's remarks were given prominent play in the ROK media, but the government declined to comment on them. However, an ROK government source called the Bush statement "a message of strong support for Seoul and for Kim Dae-jung," who has taken a sterner line on the DPRK. Kim told the US daily USA Today on October 16 that "the government as well as the Korean people are very much frustrated and critical of the fact that the North Koreans have continuously, unilaterally reneged on their promises."


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2. US Sanctions on PRC

The Washington Post (Steven Mufson, "CHINA SANCTIONS STAND, U.S. SAYS," 10/18/01) reported that the US Bush administration on October 17 ruled out any move at present to allow the sale of spare parts for US-made Black Hawk helicopters the PRC bought in 1984, but it did not rule out the possibility of issuing a limited waiver of the sanctions imposed on the PRC after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. US White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "The United States government is not deliberating a waiver of Tiananmen sanctions to sell spare parts for China's fleet of S-70C Black Hawk helicopters. The sanctions remain in place. There is no quid pro quo on assistance that China may be giving in our counter-terrorism efforts, intelligence or otherwise." However, US government sources said the administration was still considering whether to supply types of equipment of a non-offensive nature. Those items might include equipment to be used by PRC forces for public security or for defending against chemical or other terrorist attacks, or for use in defusing unexploded ordinance. Because these items are handled by the military or security forces in the PRC, they are subject to the Tiananmen sanctions and would require a US waiver. US State Department spokesman Philip T. Reeker said, "Waiving sanctions would require, as you know, a presidential determination. The doing so would be in the national interest. And so sanctions have been waived in the past, sanctions may be waived in the future, but I don't have anything to announce in terms of any particular plans." [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]


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3. PRC and Counter-Terrorism

The Washington Post (John Pomfret, "IN ITS OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, CHINA EMERGES AS LEADER," Beijing, 10/18/01) reported that last year, the PRC forged a regional pact against terrorism, drug-running and Islamic radicalism. It now aids military and security services in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. In June, the PRC said it would even consider joint operations against terrorism - a major break with its past policies, which rejected even a hint of joint military action. The moves are part of a bold foreign policy agenda that is transforming PRC relations with its neighbors. According to government officials and others who study PRC policy, the country's assertiveness reflects a profound shift in its approach to foreign relations. Unlike its old concerns with "war and revolution," in the words of its first leader, the PRC's new concerns are said to be threefold: securing its borders: meeting massive demands for food, oil, wood and other natural resources; and uniting the mainland with Taiwan. Askar Aitmatov, foreign affairs adviser to Askar Akayev, the president of Kyrgyzstan, said, "Unlike the former Soviet Union, China does historic transformations quietly, without a fuss. China is now an active participant in security and cooperative agreements outside its own borders. That is a serious change." PRC policy, and its current support for the US war against terrorism, turn on the notion that terrorism's defeat in Central Asia will help it solve one of the oldest problems faced by its empire: how to pacify Xinjiang and Tibet. As in the Pacific, PRC ambitions in Central Asia are also partly a response to US policy. For years, US moves there have provoked worry in the PRC. When the 82nd Airborne Division flew to Kazakhstan for exercises in 1997, PRC security experts said it was a wake-up call. PRC scholar Min wrote in a recent issue of the Chinese publication World Affairs, "In order to realize its goal of a unipolar world, the United States continues to penetrate the countries in Central Asia formerly controlled by the Soviet Union." He added that a main goal of US security policy was to "limit the growth of China's influence and ensure that China's growing power did not upset the present power balance in the region." Ma warned specifically about what he termed a US gambit to influence Mongolia. Some analysts see the PRC's expanding influence as an echo of the imperial role it played in Asia over thousands of years. At the same time, however, many Chinese thinkers are troubled by what they see as a lack of values or overall purpose in modern PRC foreign policy. One senior government adviser said, "We still don't stand for anything. We are not a democracy, we're not communist. We're just big." [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]


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4. Editorial on New Sino-US Relations

The Washington Post published an editorial ("CHINA AND COUNTERTERRORISM," 10/18/01) which said the US relationship with the PRC has changed almost as dramatically as that with Russia since September 11, and for some of the same reasons. The article said that "public prickliness has disappeared" as the PRC showed support for the US campaign against terrorism and even the bombing in Afghanistan - the first the PRC has supported a US military action since the end of the Cold War. In return, the article continued, "China, like Russia, expects new understanding for its brutal repression of a Muslim minority, the Uighurs, on the grounds that it is also counterterrorism." It noted that although PRC support in Central Asia could be important, "once again the administration appears in danger of going too far, allowing the cause of counterterrorism to dominate a relationship with other vital US interests." Those interests include, the editorial said, curtailment of PRC sales of missiles and nuclear materials, defense of Taiwan's democracy against an aggressive PRC military buildup and promotion within the PRC of greater freedom and human rights. The article continued to say that "any association with China's repression of Muslims could do serious and unnecessary damage to the Bush administration's larger political struggle for Muslim support against radical Islam." Therefore, the article concluded, "Mr. Bush can best serve the battle against Islamic extremists by making clear that he will not support the persecution of Muslims, in China or anywhere else." [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]


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5. PRC Air-Defense Work in Iran

The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, "CHINA STEPS UP AIR-DEFENSE WORK ON IRAN'S BORDER FEARS," 10/18/01) reported that according to US intelligence officials, the PRC is stepping up construction of an air-defense system in Iran near the border with Afghanistan as Tehran fears US military operations will spill over into its borders. U.S. intelligence officials said work by PRC technicians on an advanced radar system known as JY-14 was detected near Iran's border with Afghanistan in the past week. A second intelligence official said, "The Chinese have been involved in helping Iran build air defenses for some time" and added that the work did not appear to violate arms protocols. A US Bush administration official said PRC military cooperation with Iran could lead to US sanctions, although air-defense radar work is only one of several areas under scrutiny. The JY-14 is a sophisticated radar that provides long-range surveillance of aircraft and missiles as part of an automated air-defense system. It can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and feed the data to missile-interceptor batteries. It can track targets flying as high as 75,000 feet and 186 miles in distance. [Ed. note: This article appeared in the US Department of Defense's Early Bird news service for October 18, 2001.]


II. Republic of Korea


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1. US-DPRK Relations

The Korea Herald ("HUBBARD WELCOMES N.K. STANCE ON TERROR," Seoul, 10/18/01) reported that the US ambassador to Seoul, Thomas Hubbard, on October 17 welcomed DPRK's recent criticism of terrorism, and said that he wants the DPRK to join the international coalition to fight terrorism. In an interview with KBS television, Hubbard said that the proposed US-DPRK talks will also deal with the terrorism issue. He reiterated the US position that US is ready to meet DPRK officials at any time and any place without any preconditions.

Joongang Ilbo (Kim Hee-sung, "BUSH GIVES OUT STRONG WARNING TO NORTH KOREA," Seoul, 10/16/01) reported that on October 17, US President George W. Bush warned the DPRK not to take advantage of the current war situation against terrorism to threaten its ally, the ROK. The remark comes as the strongest one President Bush made toward the DPRK since taking office. Bush said in an interview with Asian editors, "North Korea should not in any way, shape or form think that because we happened to be engaged in Afghanistan we will not be prepared and ready to fulfill our end of our agreement with the South Korean government. Not only will we have troops there and have them there, we will be prepared to defend and stand side-by-side with our longtime friend, the South Korean people." Although Bush acknowledged ROK President Kim Dae-jung's great patience and persistent efforts to recognize national reunification of the two Koreas, he also pointed out that it is apparent DPRK leader hardly shares that same passion. President Bush also reiterated that the DPRK hasn't been responding to US calls to resume dialogue without preconditions since June this year, and has also been failing to keep up with their promise of a return visit to Seoul.


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2. Inter-Korean Summit

Joongang Ilbo ("KIM JONG-IL WANTS SECOND INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT, RUSSIAN ENVOY SAYS," Seoul, 10/17/01) reported that a Russian presidential envoy said on October 16 that National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il wants to hold summit talks with President Kim Dae-jung and that the DPRK leader's visit to Seoul will be realized. Konstantin Pulikovski, the Russian presidential envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District said, "Chairman Kim thought highly of the first summit talks with President Kim and made remarks about the inter-Korean relationship several times during his visit to Russia (in August)." Mr. Pulikovski also well known for accompanying Chairman Kim in his train trip to Russia from July 26 - Aug. 18 said the reason for his taking such a slow route to reach Moscow was to make close observation of the overall change in Russia since the collapse of its communist system.


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3. EU Aid to DPRK

Joongang Ilbo ("N.K. CHILDREN TO RECEIVE CLOTHES AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FROM EU," Seoul, 10/17/01) reported that European Union (EU) decided to send in clothing and other medical supplies to children in the DPRK. EU Commission said through its statement that it would send in supplies in order to protect young DPRK children from the harsh conditions of cold and poverty. Partially blaming the natural disaster for intensifying the suffering of the DPRK, the Commission disclosed that the latest aids aim toward 74,000 infants and primary school children of the four provinces.


III. Japan


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1. The US Views on the DPRK

Korean Broadcasting System ("THOMAS HUBBARD WANTS THE NORTH TO JOIN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM," 10/18/01) and Yomiuri Shinbun ("A FULL REPORT OF MEETING WITH GEORGE W. BUSH," 10/18/01, 9) reported that US ambassador to the ROK, Thomas Hubbard said on Wednesday that the US wants the DPRK to join the US-led anti-terrorism campaign, adding that the US is ready to hold talks with the DPRK to discuss issues related to terrorism including the removal of the DPRK from the list of nations supporting terrorism. In an interview with the KBS TV, Hubbard demanded the DPRK take further steps against terrorism beyond just issuing a statement, although Hubbard welcomed the anti-terrorism statement made by the DPRK. Hubbard also said he sincerely wishes for Kim Jong Il's return visit to Seoul. With regard to the US military in the ROK soil, although admitting significantly reduced possibility of invading the ROK by the DPRK, Hubbard said, referring to the DPRK's capability to thrust into the ROK, that the US hopes to have its troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula even after unification. The US president, George W. Bush also emphasized the US force presence in the Korean Peninsula after unification in the exclusive joint interview with Junichi Hayakawa, managing editor of the Yomiuri Shinbun, and two representatives from People's Daily of the PRC and Yonhap News of the ROK.


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2. Japanese Prime minister's visit to the ROK

Financial Times (Alexandra Harney and Andrew Ward, "KOIZUMI SEEKS TO REASSURE S KOREA," Tokyo and Seoul, 10/16/01, 16) reported that Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese prime minister, sought on October 15 to smooth over difference with the ROK ahead of this weekend's Asia-Pacific economic summit in Shanghai. After a visit to a museum that chronicles the Japan's colonial rule, Mr.Koizumi said that "I looked at exhibitions, facilities and traces of torture with heartfelt remorse and apology for the tremendous damage and suffering Japan caused the South Korean people through its colonial rule." Mr.Koizumi's visit to China and the ROK has not produced any visible progress in resolving issue that has complicated Japan's relations with its neighbors. On the other hand, the trips have given the impression that the PRC and the ROK do no oppose Mr.Koizumi's plan to allow the Self-Defense Forces to help the US war effort, the article said. However, the continued anti-Japanese feeling in the ROK was demonstrated by hundreds of protesters who gathered in Seoul shouting abusive statements at Mr.Koizumi. Opposition politicians and media commentators dismissed the talks between Mr.Koizumi and Kim Dae Jung as a failure, citing a lack of concrete proposals to improve relations, although officials said that the meeting heralded a new era of friendship between the two neighbors, which are to co-host next June's soccer World Cup finals.


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3. Japan's Role in Afghanistan

Yomiuri shinbun (Fumiya Akagi, "KOMURA PROPOSES TOKYO AS VENUE FOR PEACE TALKS," 10/14/01) reported that former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura retuned home last week after visiting Saudi Arabia and Iran. As a prime minister's special envoy, Mr. Komura held talks with leaders of the two key Middle Eastern nations to discuss and seek their understanding of Japan's participation in the US-led anti-terrorism campaign. In an exclusive interview with Yomiuri Shinbun, Mr. Komura responded to the question on Japan's commitment to the rehabilitation of Afghanistan after completion of the military campaign, saying that "Ever since I was foreign minister, I'd said Tokyo was willing to host talks to restore peace in Afghanistan once Afghans of all social circles and strata were inclined to make peace with each other and that I am still proposing Tokyo as a venue." Mr. Komura added, "(Iranian) President Khatami told me he highly rated the fact that Japan was taking into consideration efforts to rehabilitate Afghanistan"

Yomiuri Shinbun (JAPAN'S ROLE FOR POST-TALIBAN, 10/18/01, 3) reported that Japan's Prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, will propose to US president George W. Bush, during summit talks in Shanghai, that post-Taliban peace conference on Afghanistan be held in Tokyo.


IV. Russian Federation


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1. RF-ROK Defense Contacts

Krasnaya Zvezda ("KOREANS WILL VISIT DVO [FAREASTERN MILITARY DISTRICT]", Moscow, 14/10/01) reported that on a ROK military delegation led by Major General Kim Ujon-Tae, Chief of Land Forces Combat Training Directorate, would visit the Fareastern Military District (DVO) for the first time visit from October 14-19. The delegation consists of senior officers of directorates of combat training and external relations. DVO Commader Colonel General Yuriy Yakubovskiy will have an official meeting with the ROK delegation. The delegation will meet with DVO unit commanders and visit a testing site while tactical exercises with live ammo firing will take place. An exchange of combat training experience will take place as well.

Kommersant (Igor Safronov, "RUSSIAN INCREASES MILITARY [PRESENCE IN SOUTH KOREA", Moscow, 10/16/01) reported that the Third Korea Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (KA&DE) opened in Seoul on October 16. The RF is represented by over 20 enterprises led by "Sukhoi" Design Bureau, Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft-Making Association, as well as such companies as BETAIR, "Airspace Equipment" and "Rosoboronexport". The RF will try to show their produce to expand its presence in ROK arms market. RF-made helicopters already account for 42 percent of total procurements for ROK public sector. Besides ROK plans to get RF debt to be paid by additional deliveries on account of RF-made T-80U tanks and BMP-3 infantry combat vehicles. There is work now underway to make a contract to deliver RF-made "Metis-M" anti-tank complexes to ROK.


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2. DPRK Hit By Floods

Nezavisimaya Gazeta (Nikolai Ostorov, "FLOODS IN NORTH KOREA", Moscow, 16/10/01) reported at least 80 people died, 27 missing, and 83 seriously wounded as a result of floods hitting DPRK last week. According to Reuters, practically all victims lived in Kanwondo province. The floods were caused downpour rains non-stopping since October 9.


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Gee Gee Wong: napsnet@nautilus.org
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Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
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Kim Hee-sun: khs688@hotmail.com
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Hibiki Yamaguchi: hibikiy@dh.mbn.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan

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Tokyo, Japan

Hiroya Takagi: hiroya_takagi@hotmail.com
Tokyo, Japan

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

Yunxia Cao: yunxiac@yahoo.com
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

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

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Clayton, Australia

 
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