NAPSNet Daily Report
 
tuesday, january 22, 2002
Navigation
 
CONTENTS

I. United States

II. Republic of Korea III. Japan
*  

Policy Forum Online:
Bush Administration's Asia Policy

Special Reports

Week in Review

South Asian Nuclear Dialogue

Nuclear Policy Project Flash

Ethical Governance Of Investment Biweekly Update


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. PRC-US Airplane Incident

The Financial Times (James Kynge, "CHINA SAYS BUGS FOUND ON PRESIDENT'S PLANE," Beijing, 01/18/02) reported that more than 20 bugging devices were discovered by PRC intelligence officers in a Boeing 767 delivered from the US and due to serve as the official aircraft of PRC President Jiang Zemin according to PRC officials. It was not clear when the aircraft was fitted with the listening devices. One was found in a lavatory and another in the headboard of the presidential bed. The bugs, hidden in upholstery, were detected after the aircraft emitted a strange static whine during test flights in the PRC in September, shortly after it was delivered. They were said to be tiny and operated by satellite. Military experts in Beijing said the devices were far more sophisticated than those available in retail outlets. There was no evidence on Friday night of US government involvement in the bugging.

The Associated Press ("CHINA COMMENTS ON REPORTED BUGGING," Beijing, 01/22/02), The New York Times (Elisabeth Rosenthal, "PRESS REPORTS OF BUGGED JET FRAY U.S. TIES WITH CHINESE," Beijing, 01/22/02), Reuters ("CHINA SAYS BUG REPORTS HAVE NO IMPACT ON U.S. TIES," Beijing, 01/22/02) and Agence France-Presse ("JIANG PLANE BUGGING AFFAIR WILL NOT AFFECT TIES," Beijing, 01/22/02) reported that in the PRC's first official reaction to weekend reports that 27 bugs had been discovered in PRC President Jiang Zemin's private Boeing 767, foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi denied knowledge of the incident itself. "I have also heard this news, but at present I have no knowledge of this." Sun also stated that he did "not see any impact" on PRC-US relations from the alleged discovery. Sun insisted that China was a "peace-loving country" that was no threat to other nations. "So it is highly unnecessary to bug China," he said.


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

2. PRC Anti-terrorism

Reuters (Tamora Vidaillet, "CHINA LINKS XINJIANG SEPARATISTS TO BIN LADEN," Beijing, 01/21/02) and The New York Times (Elisabeth Rosenthal, "BEIJING SAYS CHINESE MUSLIMS WERE TRAINED WITH BIN LADEN FUNDS," Beijing, 01/22/02) reported that the PRC on Monday directly linked a series of attacks by Islamic separatists in its northwestern Xinjiang region with Osama bin Laden. The cabinet's information office outlined the allegations in a 10-page report that blamed "East Turkestan" forces for more than 200 incidents between 1990 and 2001 in Xinjiang. The report said that 162 people had been killed and more than 440 injured and that militants seeking a separate state called East Turkestan had masterminded incidents in Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, posing a threat to regional security. The report said that forces led by bin Laden gave financial and material aid to East Turkestan separatists. It also claims that Bin Laden met the leader of one group, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, in early 1999. An unnamed spokesperson for the East Turkestan Information Center asserted, "We support the fight against all terrorism. But China must make a distinction in its strike: crack down on the real terrorists, but don't confuse the Uighur people's rightful claims for independence with terrorism. All the crimes listed in the white paper are criminal activities carried out by individuals and have absolutely no relation with East Turkestan independence movement. They don't stand for the Uighur people as a whole."


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

3. Inter-Korean Relations

The Associated Press ("N.KOREA CALLS SOUTH PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT 'SCUM,'" Seoul, 01/21/02) reported that the DPRK demanded on Monday that the ROK's opposition chief and leading presidential candidate Lee Hoi- chang apologize for remarks voicing skepticism about the ROK's dealings with the DPRK. The official statement read that comments by Lee calling for reciprocity from the DPRK and verification of ROK-DPRK agreements "betrayed the true colors of this human scum fawning on the US master." In remarks similar to the policy spelled out last year by President Bush, Lee told a news conference on January 17 his DPRK policy would be guided by the principles of "reciprocity, transparency and verification."


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

4. DPRK Arirang Festival

Agence France-Presse ("NORTH KOREA TO OPEN UP FOR 'GREATEST EVENT OF MANKIND,'") 01/22/02) reported that the DPRK will stage daily performances of a mass rally of 100,000 people as part of a two month long festival partly to celebrate key political anniversaries. The DPRK has invited foreign tourists to Pyongyang to see one of its renowned mass gymnastics displays, normally reserved for visiting foreign leaders or special occasions. The centerpiece of the festival is a mass performance of 100,000 gymnasts and artists, which the DPRK's official newspaper the Rodong Sinmun described as "the greatest performance of the 21st century." "If you miss it, you would be regretful for the rest of your life," the daily said.


II. Republic of Korea


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

1. ROK-DPRK New Route

Joongang Ilbo (Yoo Kwang-jong, "NORTH SAID READY AT OPENING BORDER FOR FESTIVAL-GOERS," Beijing, 01/22/02) reported that the DPRK has decided to open overland travel routes to Pyongyang through the truce village of Panmunjeom as well as an overland route to Mount Geumgang that ROK tourism officials in the government and private sector have been demanding. The routes will only be open for two months, beginning in late April, during the DPRK's Arirang Festival. An official in Beijing familiar with the issue said that the DPRK and the ROK are negotiating the specifics of the overland routes, which would be the first of their kind since the post-World War II period.


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

2. DPRK Arirang Festival

Joongang Ilbo (Jung Chang-hyun, "NORTH LOOKS FOR FOREIGN TOURIST," Seoul, 01/22/02) reported that the DPRK is busy with preparations for its Arirang Festival, which is scheduled to run from April 29 to June 29. The DPRK hopes the festival will bring about 100,000 foreign tourists to Pyongyang. Tickets are priced in US dollars. The least expensive seats for the festival, the centerpiece of which is a gymnastics extravaganza, will cost spectators US$50. "Special seats" cost US$300 and "first-class seats" are US$150. The DPRK is planning to charter planes from foreign airlines for the festival and has set up package tours that include sightseeing in Pyongyang, nearby Mount Myohyang and Gaeseong.


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

3. ROK–Japan Fisheries Treaty

Joongang Ilbo ("SEOUL STICKS TO FISHERIES TREATY," Seoul, 01/22/02) reported that the ROK government plans to maintain the ROK-Japan fisheries agreement, the three-year term of which expired Monday. Previously, the ROK Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said the agreement remains valid in absence of an objection. Since the agreement took effect in 1999, ROK fishermen have caught more fish in Japan's exclusive economic zone - 82,000 tons - than Japanese fishers have netted in ROK exclusive zone - 46,000 tons. Waters near Dokdo Island between Japan and ROK were designated as neutral, but some civic groups asserted that this designation is equivalent to a loss of sovereignty. The maritime ministry plans to maintain the neutral zone around Dokdo until the furor over the disputed island settles down.


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

4. DPRK Technology Fair

Joongang Ilbo ("PYONGYANG TO HOST TECHNOLOGY FAIR," Seoul, 01/22/02) reported that DPRK plans to open an international technology trade fair from September 17-20 reported Monday. The Pyongyang International Technology and Infrastructure Exhibition will be jointly hosted by the DPRK's International Exhibition Corporation and MMI-Munich International Trade Fairs, anInternet service provider, which is based in Shenyang, China.


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

5. ROK World Cup Effect

The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, "CHANCE OF N.K. LEADER'S SEOUL LOW: PRESIDENT KIM," 01/22/02) reported that ROK president Kim Dae-jung expressed uncertainty Monday about the possibility of DPRK leader Kim Jong-il attending the opening ceremony for the World Cup soccer games in Seoul slated for May 31. "Any kind of prediction is difficult at this moment," President Kim said in a luncheon meeting with a group of sports editors. "It is good for world leaders, regardless of their ideologies, to attend the opening ceremony. I have recommended prominent foreign leaders to observe the World Cup tournaments," President Kim said. He also stressed the importance of ROK's role as a host of the international soccer finals, saying, "In addition, I hope the World Cup will provide the momentum to achieve unity and harmony in the nation."


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

6. US Military Base Relocation

The Korea Herald ("LOCAL RESIDENTS PROTEST PROPOSED RELOCATION OF U.S. MILITARY BASE," Seoul, 01/22/02) reported that residents of several candidate sites for the new US military compound are strongly protesting the plan to relocate the Yongsan base to their areas, claiming the US military presence could cause serious social and environmental problems there. Among possible sites for the new US military base are Geoyeo- dong in Songpa-gu, southeastern Seoul, and the suburban cities of Suwon and Seongnam, both south of the capital. In a statement, the Songpa-gu Office and residents voiced their opposition Monday to the proposed relocation of the compound in Yongsan. The statement read, "For security reasons, we have suffered mental and property damage over the past decades," the statement said. The statement also called on the South Korean and US militaries to make public all information about the decision-making process over the selection of an alternative site for the main U.S. military base.


III. Japan


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

1. Japan-ROK Relations

Kyodo ("COURT REJECTS KOREANS' APPEAL," Tokyo, 01/16/02) reported that the Tokyo High Court on January 15 rejected an appeal, filed on behalf of two ROK women who were demanding 60 million yen in compensation and official apologies from the Japanese government over their forced labor during WWII. Cho Kap Sun and Woo Jong Sun claimed that they were forcibly recruited by the Japanese government when they were 14 years old and forced to work as members of a "volunteer corps," mainly at a spinning factory in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, from the spring of 1944 to the end of WWII.


next 
itemprev. itemcontentscontacts

2. Japan's Role Peacekeeping Operations

Kyodo ("2ND RESEARCH TEAM GOING TO E. TIMOR," Tokyo, 01/18/02) reported that the Japanese government will dispatch a second research team to East Timor this week ahead of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel due there in March to join UN peacekeeping operations, Defense Agency officials said Thursday. The research team, which leaves Tuesday, primarily will comprise members of the Northern Army of the Ground Self- Defense Forces (GSDF).


prev. 
itemcontentscontacts

3. SDF Transparency

The Asahi Shimbun ("DEFENSE AGENCY MOSTLY MUM ON SDF," Tokyo, 01/18/02) reported that Japanese Defense Agency officials have been far from forthcoming when asked to explain what the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are actually doing. For its part, the Defense Agency says it cannot disclose details of SDF missions before the fact for fear of compromising ongoing US military operations. Agency officials said that the agency's style was similar to briefings given by the Pentagon. A top Defense Agency official later said, "I was not aware how limited the information given out at press briefing was. There seems to be an attitude problem on information disclosure and I see room to improve this area." Another high-ranking official said, "There is a limit to what an SDF officer in charge of media briefings can explain if he is not involved directly in the mission."


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:
BK21 The Education and Research Corps for East Asian Studies
Department of Political Science Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Center for American Studies,
Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
International Peace Research Institute (PRIME),
Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
Monash Asia Institute,
Monash University, Clayton, Australia

Brandon Yu: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

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

Kim Young-soo: yskim328@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hibiki Yamaguchi: hibikiy@dh.mbn.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Saiko Iwata: saiko@akira.ne.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Hiroya Takagi: hiroya_takagi@hotmail.com
Tokyo, Japan

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

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

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

John McKay: John.McKay@adm.monash.edu.au< /a>
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