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In today's Report:
1. ROK, UN Opposition of Taiwan's Nuclear Waste Disposal Plans
The ROK's endeavors to stop Taiwan from exporting nuclear waste to
the DPRK received an international boost Wednesday when the UN
General Assembly agreed to include a related clause in the closing
document of its special session. ROK Foreign Minister Yoo Chong-ha
said that participating countries in the Earth Summit agreed to
stipulate opposition to "transboundary" transportation of radioactive
waste. According to a relevant part of the document draft released
by ROK officials, the UN urges countries to store radioactive waste
within their respective territories. "...It is best for radioactive
waste to be disposed of in the state in which it was generated as far
as is compatible with the safety of the management of such material,"
the draft read. "Governments should finalize this text and are urged
to ratify and implement it as soon as possible so as to further
improve practice and strengthen safety in this area... The issue of
potential transboundary environmental effects of activities related
to the management of radioactive waste and the question of prior
notification, relevant information and consultation with states that
could potentially be affected by such effects, should be further
addressed within the appropriate forums," the draft document added.
ROK President Kim Young-sam, in a keynote speech to the UN conference
Monday, appealed to all countries to pay heed to ROK's concerns and
pressure the Taiwanese government. (Korea Herald, Chon Shi-yong, "UN
OPPOSES TAIWAN'S NUCLEAR WASTE SHIPMENT TO DPRK; MINISTER YOO SAYS
FOLLOWING SPECIAL SESSION," New York, 06/27/97)
2. President Kim's Speech on DPRK Policies
On Wednesday, the 47th commemoration of the DPRK's invasion, ROK
President Kim Young-sam said that Pyongyang has not changed its
policy of spreading Communism on the Korean peninsula by military
force. "Even though the Cold War era has ended and the rest of the
world is brimming with reconciliation and cooperation, a tense
military confrontation still persists on the Korean Peninsula," Kim
said in a speech at a meeting held by the Korea Society. Headed by
former US ambassador to the ROK Donald P. Gregg, the Korea Society
was established in 1978 with the aim of promoting economic,
political, informational, educational and cultural ties between the
ROK and the US. "The very survival of our compatriots in the North is
being threatened because of a serious food shortage. And yet, DPRK's
policy of communizing the South by military force has not changed at
all," Kim said. (Korea Times, Lee Chang-sup, "NK STILL SEEKS TO
COMMUNIZE SOUTH BY FORCE NEW YORK," 06/27/97)
A high ranking US military official stationed in the ROK said that
economic crimes and regional bureaucrats' discontent is rising in the
DPRK, pushing the nation into the third stage of disintegration. In
his speech entitled "DPRK's Dilemma: A Combat Commanders Opinion,"
delivered at Maryland University yesterday, the official described
the fall of the DPRK regime in seven stages. (Hankyoreh Shinmun, Jung
Yeon-ju, "A US MILITARY OFFICIAL IN THE ROK ANALYSES SITUATION IN THE
DPRK," Washington DC, 06/27/97)
1. Japan-Russia Defense Relations
The Sankei Shimbun ("RUSSIAN PRESIDENT REVEALS THAT RUSSIA'S NUCLEAR
MISSILE PROGRAM WILL DETARGET JAPAN," Denver, 1, 06/21/97) reported
that during talks between Russian President Boris Yeltsin and
Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Yeltsin revealed Russia's
plans for its nuclear ballistic missiles to de-target Japan.
The Asahi Shimbun ("RUSSIA COMPLETES DETARGETING JAPAN," 2, 06/27/97)
and the Nikkei Shimbun ("RUSSIA COMPLETES NUCLEAR MISSILE DETARGETING
OF JAPAN," 8, 06/27/97) reported that on June 26, the Russian
Presidential Spokesman announced that Russia's Defense Department had
completed de- targeting Japan. The report pointed out that this will
help promote Japan-Russia confidence-building measures that were
agreed upon by Japanese Prime Minister Hashimoto and Russian
President Yeltsin at the Denver summit.
2. Review of Japan-US Defense Cooperation Guidelines
The Nikkei Shimbun ("LDP SECURITY RESEARCH GROUP COMPLETES PROPOSAL
ON EMERGENCY LEGISLATION," 2, 06/27/97) reported that on June 26, an
LDP security research group completed its proposal on emergency
legislation. The proposal, which will officially be announced in
early July, gives priority to legislation in events of emergency in
the regions surrounding Japan, including the Korean Peninsula, rather
than to legislation in events of emergency in the Japanese
territories. Among the proposed legislative steps are transportation
of Japanese nationals outside of Japan, patrol of important
facilities, measures for a mass of refugees, implementation of United
Nations economic sanctions and other forms of international
cooperation, and assistance to US forces.
Representatives from the three ruling parties--the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the News Party
Sakigake--discussed several issues at the June 26 inter-ruling
consultation on the review of Japan-US defense cooperation
guidelines, reported the Nikkei Shimbun ("RULING PARTIES MAY DISAGREE
ON EMERGENCY LEGISLATION," 2, 06/27/97). Among the topics that were
discussed, legislators agreed that the reviewed guidelines should not
exceed the framework of the Japanese constitution, but could not come
to a conclusion on emergency legislation. Commenting on the LDP's
desire to discuss the emergency legislation and the SDP's desire to
avoid the matter, LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Taku Yamazaki
stated, "As soon as all of us agree to emergency legislation, I will
take some action to draw from the PRC and the ROK their understanding
of emergency legislation." The article noted that Yamazaki's
statement indicates that the ruling parties all agree to strike out a
coordinated policy with respect to emergency legislation but, given
the SDP's resistance to revision of the Self- Defense Law, it will
probably be difficult for the LDP to persuade the SDP into emergency
legislation.
3. Japan's Food Policy Towards DPRK
The Nikkei Shimbun ("LDP LEADERS PROPOSE LOWER HOUSE DIET MEMBER
DELEGATE TO DPRK," 2, 6/27/97) reported that LDP executive members
proposed a delegation to the DPRK, headed by LDP Lower House member
Masahiko Murakami, who has been cautious about food aid to the DPRK.
The report suggested that the LDP executive members selected Murakami
as head of the delegation to reduce opposition to food aid to the
DPRK among the LDP. The report added that the LDP will formally ask
Murakami to head the delegate upon agreement from LDP Policy Research
Council Chairman Taku Yamazaki and Director General Koichi Kato, but
that it is unclear whether the DPRK will approve the visit.
4. Status of Food Transport to DPRK
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("FOOD TRANSPORTATION BY TRAIN IN TROUBLE," 6,
Seoul, 6/27/97) reported that, on June 26, an ROK Red Cross official
told the newspaper that food being delivered by train to the DPRK is
being delayed due to insufficient transportation facilities in the
DPRK. Among the numerous logistical problems is the outdated rail
system; the official said that food aid often arrives behind
schedule, inefficient manpower has to be mobilized to transport food
aid, and that there has even been a train derailment in the eastern
part of a PRC-DPRK border area. The Red Cross official added that
the DPRK recognizes the problem and that another North-South Red
Cross meeting will be held in late July, when the first food aid
program ends.
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Return to the top of this Daily Report
1. ROK, UN Opposition of Taiwan's Nuclear Waste Disposal Plans
II. Japan
2. President Kim's Speech on DPRK Policies
3. Speech on Collapse of DPRK
1. Japan-Russia Defense Relations
2. Review of Japan-US Defense Cooperation Guidelines
3. Japan's Food Policy Towards DPRK
4. Status of Food Transport to DPRK
I. Republic of Korea
II. Japan
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