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I. United States1. Koizumi Visit to Tokyo War Shrine Reuters, ("STATEMENT BY JAPAN PM KOIZUMI ON SHRINE VISIT," Tokyo, 04/21/02) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a surprise visit early on Sunday to a Tokyo shrine that commemorates convicted war criminals along with war dead. After the visit, Koizumi issued a statement explaining his decision: "I visited Yasukuni Shrine today. The purpose of my visit was to sincerely mourn those who gave their lives for their country, abandoning their families against their will, during the course of our country's history since the Meiji Restoration (in 1868). I think today's peace and prosperity in Japan are based on the sacrifices of the many who lost their precious lives in war. It is important to maintain our resolve to preserve peace into the future and never repeat the tragedy of war. I think it is natural to pay my sincere respects by visiting Yasukuni Shrine, which over a long period of time has become a center for citizens to mourn those who lost their precious lives for the country. I do not wish to again cause anxiety in Japan and abroad or a sense of caution by visiting the shrine on or around the time of the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two. After careful consideration, I thought I could honestly express my genuine feelings by visiting the shrine today in line with the spring peace festival. I think the citizens will also fully understand this." Reuters ("CHINA PROTESTS OVER KOIZUMI VISIT TO TOKYO WAR SHRINE," Beijing, 04/22/02) reported that PRC protested on Sunday against a surprise visit by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to a Tokyo war shrine that also remembers convicted war criminals. "The Chinese side resolutely opposes Japanese leaders paying homage to the Yasukuni shrine in any form and at any time," foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in a statement. "The Japanese action can only damage the Japanese image itself and that makes it more difficult for Japan to win Asian peoples' trust on historical problems," she said. 2. Hu Jintao US Tour Reuters (Jeremy Page, "CHINA'S HU STEPS INTO THE SPOTLIGHT WITH US TOUR," Beijing, 04/22/02) reported that the PRC Vice President Hu Jintao, takes his biggest step into the limelight this week with his first ever official visit to the US. With about six months until the PRC's leadership changes, the trip via Singapore and Malaysia is the most significant move yet to cement Hu's position as favorite to succeed Jiang Zemin as Communist Party chief this year, and as president in 2003. It will be his first real test in the diplomatic hot seat. "He might have read many things about the US, been briefed many times and received many American people, but he has never been to the United States on record," said Shen Dingli of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. "He will try to present an image that is not hardline or conservative while sticking to the Chinese line on key issues like Taiwan," said Cheng Li, an expert on Chinese politics at Hamilton College in New York. "China needs good relations with the United States so close to the leadership succession." But analysts are not expecting concrete agreements to emerge from the US leg starting April 27 -- partly to avoid upstaging Jiang, who is due in the United States later in the year. 3. PRC View on US War on Terror Agence France-Presse ("JIANG ENDS FIVE-NATION TOUR, DEPLORING EXPANSION OF US WAR ON TERROR," 04/22/02) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin concluded a five-nation tour in Iran, voicing loud opposition to an expansion of the US "war on terror" and policies in the Middle East. "Beijing's policy is against strategies of force and the US military presence in Central Asia and the Middle East region," Jiang said after talks here late Saturday with former Iranian president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Before the start of the tour, PRC analysts described Jiang's trip as a direct message to the US. "This visit is to show that America cannot just define as it wishes rogue states," Zhu Feng, director of Beijing University's International Security Program. 4. Russia-US Arms Control The Associated Press ("US OFFICIAL ARRIVES TO CONTINUE WORK ON NEW ARMS CONTROL AGREEMENTS," Moscow, 04/21/02) reported that John Bolton, undersecretary for arms control and international security, arrived in Moscow on Sunday to continue work preparing new arms control agreements expected to be ready for the US-Russian summit next month. Bolton has two days of meetings scheduled with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov. Other US and Russian negotiators are expected to attend the meetings. While U.S. and Russian officials say that the agreements are nearly ready, talks have been difficult because of Russia's objection to the Pentagon's decision to stockpile decommissioned nuclear weapons rather than destroy them. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said last month that the Kremlin wouldn't mind if the US put some of the decommissioned weapons in storage, but Russian negotiators are still pushing for some kind of compromise from the US. Both sides are eager to get an agreement ready in time for Bush's arrival in Russia next month. 5. Japan-ROK Military Ties Agence France-Presse ("JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AGREE TO RESTORE FROZEN MILITARY TIES," 04/20/02) reported that the ROK and Japan agreed to restore their fledgling military ties suspended last year after a row about history books, the defense ministry said. The agreement was reached at a meeting between Japan's defense minister Gen Nakatani and his ROK counterpart Kim Dong-Shin. It came after fence-mending summit talks between Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung in Seoul last month. "The ministers agreed to restore military exchanges between the two countries which were postponed or readjusted last year," a defense ministry spokesman said. The ministers also agreed to continue sharing intelligence to ensure the success of the upcoming football World Cup. Nakatani and Kim also decided visits by military leaders to each other's country should resume and a second joint navy search and rescue drill would be held in September. They also agreed to sports exchanges between soldiers from their countries. Nakatani arrived here on Friday for a three-day visit. The leaders of the countries agreed at their summit last month to renew efforts to overcome decades-old enmity resulting from Japan's 1910-45 brutal colonial rule of Korea. 6. DPRK-ROK Maritime Crossing Reuters ("TWO NORTH KOREAN NAVY BOATS VIOLATE MARITIME BORDER WITH SOUTH KOREA," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that two DPRK navy patrol boats briefly crossed into ROK territorial waters in the Yellow Sea on Monday, but the ROK military said it appeared to be an accident. The DPRK boats crossed the border about 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Paengnyong Island off the ROK's northwest coast while tracking 40 PRC fishing boats, the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a news release. The DPRK boats stayed in ROK waters for 40 minutes before being chased back across the border by two ROK navy patrol boats, it said. Monday's incursion was the fourth by DPRK naval ships this year. The ROK accused the DPRK of 12 border violations in the East China Sea last year. 7. DPRK-ROK Railroad Development The Associated Press ("NORTH KOREA'S MILITARY REJECTS SOUTH KOREA'S PROPOSAL FOR TALKS ON CROSS-BORDER RAIL LINE," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that the DPRK's military has rejected an ROK proposal to discuss when to resume work on re- linking a cross-border rail line that was cut off more than a half century ago, officials said Monday. In a telephone message to its DPRK counterpart on Friday, the ROK's military proposed that the two sides meet at the border village of Panmunjom on Tuesday to discuss the issue but the DPRK's military rejected it, said Hwang Eui-dong, a spokesman for the ROK's Defense Ministry. The DPRK military instead suggested that the issue be taken up at an inter- Korean economic ministerial meeting, scheduled to be held on May 7, he said. 1. War Shrine Visit by Prime Minister The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, "KOIZUMI RETURNS TO WAR SHRINE," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that the ROK government expressed regret over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's surprise visit to Yasukuni Shrine Sunday, denouncing his "inappropriate" action of honoring war criminals enshrined at the controversial site. The shrine in Tokyo honors 14 "Class A" World War II criminals along with about 2.5 million other Japanese war dead. It is the second time Koizumi has visited the shrine as Japan's prime minister. Choo Kyu-ho, director-general for the Foreign Ministry's Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau noted that a group of Japanese experts, backed by the Japanese government, is currently working out measures to resolve the Yasukuni controversy, including proposals to change its name and/or location. 2. DPRK-US Relations Joongang Ilbo ("NORTH KEEPS SILENT ON A PRITCHARD VISIT," Washington, 04/20/02) reported that the DPRK has yet to send the US any word about allowing a US special envoy to visit Pyongyang, the US State Department said Thursday. ROK envoy Lim Dong-won returned from Pyongyang this month and said that the DPRK was ready to resume dialogue with the US and would accept a visit by US special envoy Jack Pritchard. But the State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said the US had heard nothing about it from the DPRK. 3. DPRK-KEDO Talks Joongang Ilbo ("N.K-KEDO HIGN LEVEL TALKS SLATED FOR MAY 30TH," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that the DPRK and Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization are to resume high level talks at Hyangsan of North Pyongan Province on May 30. The issue of the talks will be about the actual construction process from establishing proper network system to the training of nuclear experts, substitute personnel and more the government official said Monday. Prior to the meeting, KEDO is also slated to hold a special executive meeting on the issue of raising funds for the light water reactor project in New York from Tuesday to Wednesday. 4. Inter-Korean Relations Joongang Ilbo ("NORTH KOREA ASKS SOUTH'S ASSISTANCE IN REMOVING LANDMINES," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that DPRK leader Kim Jong-il has asked for the ROK's cooperation in removing the landmines at the demilitarized zone in relations to construction of inter-Korean railway of Gyeongui Line. "The North's chairman called for the South's assistance in removing the landmines at the demilitarized zone while telling he'd like to continue with the Gyeongui construction as fast as possible during Lim's visit," an ROK official in Seoul said. "Although there wasn't much mentioning of the details we could still count on sending certain equipment -not troops - needed for landmine-job when the times come," the official said. "It is the North's side of explanation that their side of railway could be connected in three-month's time with their roadbed still standing firm." 5. DPRK Military Anniversary Joognang Ilbo ("GRAND MILITARY PARADE EXPECTED IN PYEONGYANG," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that the DPRK is reportedly concentrating its armed forces around the capital Pyongyang in preparation for a ceremony scheduled for Thursday to mark the founding of the Korea People's Army 70 years ago. "It is said the North is planning a large-scale military parade for the 70th anniversary," a ROK government source said. "Mirim Airport is already said to be crowded with all kinds of army vehicles." "But we're still not sure whether the North will showcase heavy weapons like Scud missiles, as it did on the 60th anniversary in 1992," the source added. "They may exercise some caution, especially after making it clear early this month they'd like to resume dialogue with the US. 6. DPRK-Japan Relations Joongang Ilbo ("JAPAN TO QUESTION NORTH ON 49 MISSING PERSONS," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that NHK, the Japanese broadcast network, reported Sunday that Japan is planning to inquire about the welfare of 49 "missing citizens" at its forthcoming Red Cross meeting with DPRK. The listed includes 11 that the Japanese government officially considers abducted as well as others officially listed as "disappeared." Many of those considered disappeared are women who married DPRK men and others who did not return to Japan after traveling to the DPRK on business. Meanwhile, Radio Pyongyang reported that the Red Cross talks slated to start April 28 in Beijing will also touch on other humanitarian concerns such as allowing Japanese women living in the DPRK to visit their families in Japan. 7. US Evaluation on DPRK Joongang Ilbo ("THE US WELCOMES NORTH'S EFFORTS TO REACH OUT," Seoul, 04/22/02) reported that the US on Friday gave the DPRK credit for its efforts to open itself to the outside world. "We have always supported the idea of their [North Korea] becoming more involved with the outside world and learning from the outside world," said Richard Boucher, the US State Department spokesman, at a press briefing. The quote came in response to DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's planned visit to the Russian Far East next month. " ... as the Secretary [of State Colin Powell] said last year, we will continue to say that Russia has an important role to play in encouraging this kind of outreach and encouraging the DPRK to work with the ROK, and the DPRK to work with members of the international community," Boucher said, describing the trip as "by and large a good thing." But Boucher did add that there has been no progress in US contacts with DPRK. 1. Japan-ROK Relations The Japan Times ("TIMETABLE SET FOR TOKYO-SEOUL HISTORY COMMITTEE," 04/16/02) reported that a Japan-ROK panel tasked with supporting the activities of a planned joint history research committee agreed Monday to launch the committee in the near future via an inaugural meeting in Seoul, Foreign Ministry officials said. The panel, which held its first talks in Tokyo, decided to expedite arrangements to finalize the composition of the research committee and announce the names of its 20 members as soon as possible. The panel aims to promote mutual understanding through exchange programs for scholars and experts, particularly in light of recent disputes over the interpretation of historical events. 2. Japan-DPRK Relations The Japan Times (Eric Johnson, "DIET GROUP TAKES HARD LINE ON NORTH KOREA ABDUCTIONS," Kobe, 04/16/02) reported that the formation late last week of a Diet group seeking to help families of Japanese nationals thought to have been kidnapped by DPRK agents signifies a hardening in the attitude of some Diet members toward the DPRK. Its aim is to put diplomatic pressure on the DPRK for the early release of at least 11 Japanese nationals whom Japan believes were abducted by DPRK agents in the 1970s and 1980s. 3. Japan Yasukuni Dispute The Asahi Shinbun ("TANG WARNS DIETMEN OF YASUKUNI FALLOUT," 04/16/02, Beijing) reported that PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan expressed concern over the weekend to visiting lawmakers that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi would again stir up controversy in the PRC this August by visiting Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine. Tang on Sunday met Hiromu Nonaka and Makoto Koga, both former secretaries-general of the Liberal Democratic Party. "I want things to proceed peacefully (between Beijing and Tokyo) in August, particularly before September when we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of normalization of our bilateral relationship," Tang told his guests. In Tokyo, meanwhile, Koizumi reacted to Tang's statement by saying, "It is the opinion of Foreign Minister Tang." The prime minister told reporters he will decide later whether to go ahead with a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. The Japan Times ("KOIZUMI URGED NOT TO VISIT YASUKUNI," 04/20/02) reported that the newly appointed ROK ambassador to Japan on Friday indirectly urged Japan's prime minister Junichiro Koizumi to abstain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine in August, a visit which strained Tokyo- Seoul relations last year. Cho Se Hyung, who assumed his post last month, said that he is aware of Japanese media reports that Koizumi is likely to visit Yasukuni on Aug.15, the day Japan surrendered at the end of the World War 2. "I hope the issue will not cause unnecessary misunderstanding and friction," he told reporters at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, adding that he hopes an alternative memorial for the nation's war dead will be established.
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