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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Thursday, October 30, 1997, from Berkeley, California, USA |
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IN TODAY'S REPORT: II. Republic of Korea |
Reuters (Stephanie Nebehay, "UN: N. KOREA IT CAN'T DROP KEY RIGHTS PACT," [sic] Geneva, 10/30/97) reported that the UN Human Rights Committee issued a statement Thursday, in reaction to an announcement by a DPRK diplomat last August that the DPRK was pulling out of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -- the first state to announce its withdrawal. "The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights does not contain any provision regarding its termination and does not provide for denunciation or withdrawal. The Committee is therefore firmly of the view that international law does not permit a state which has ratified or acceded or succeeded to the Covenant to denounce it," the statement said. UN sources said the aim of the statement was two-fold: to put on record that DPRK citizens are still under the protection of the pact, and to warn other states not to follow suit. The statement of principle was issued by the committee's 18 independent experts, who are holding their semi-annual session in Geneva until November 7. "The rights enshrined in the Covenant belong to the people living in the territory of the state party," they said. "The Human Rights Committee has consistently taken the view, as evidenced by its long-standing practice, that once the people are accorded the protection of the rights under the Covenant, such protection devolves with territory and continues to belong to them."
Reuters ("CAMBODIA, SOUTH KOREA ESTABLISH FORMAL TIES," Phnom Penh, 10/30/97) reported that the ROK and Cambodia established full diplomatic relations Thursday. The two countries reopened low-level relations last year after a 21-year hiatus, but delayed establishing full relations because of objections from Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, a longtime friend of the late DPRK leader Kim Il-sung. However, in response to a request from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Sihanouk apparently said that the government could establish full ties after he left Cambodia on Saturday for medical treatment in the PRC.
The Washington Post (Thomas W. Lippman, "U.S.-CHINA PACTS REACHED IN SHADOW OF DISCORD ON RIGHTS," 10/30/97, A01), the New York Times ("U.S. AND CHINA REACH TRADE PACTS BUT CLASH ON RIGHTS," Washington, 10/30/97), the Los Angeles Times (Jonathan Peterson, "CLINTON AND JIANG AGREE TO PACTS, DIFFER ON RIGHTS," Washington, 10/30/97) and the Wall Street Journal (Robert S. Greenberger, "U.S.-CHINA SUMMIT PRODUCES RIGHTS DISCORD, BUSINESS PACTS," Washington, 10/30/97) reported that US President Bill Clinton and PRC President Jiang Zemin concluded their summit meeting Wednesday with a joint statement saying that, despite their differences over human rights, they "are determined to build toward a constructive strategic partnership . . . through increasing cooperation to meeting international challenges and promote peace and development in the world." Clinton and Jiang agreed to "regular visits to each other's capitals," beginning with a return visit to Beijing by Clinton next year. Clinton said, "I welcome the steps China has taken and the clear assurances it has given today to help prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and related technology," adding that he would authorize "our companies to apply for license to sell equipment to Chinese nuclear power plants subject to US monitoring." According to unnamed US officials, the PRC promised not to engage in any new peaceful nuclear cooperation with Iran, saying that it would however complete two existing projects. However, Senator John D. Ashcroft (R-Mo.) said Clinton's statement "is precisely what I feared would happen. And it is exactly what Iran and other terrorist states hoped would happen." Clinton and Jiang also said that the two nations will work together to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which prohibits tests of nuclear bombs, into force at the earliest possible date. On Taiwan, Clinton said he will "adhere strictly to the one-China policy." [Ed. note: The complete text of the Clinton-Jiang joint statement will be issued today as a Special Report.]
The ROK prosecution has launched an investigation into six DPRK Internet websites reportedly used as political propaganda tools. An official at the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office said that a small but increasing number of ROK citizens are believed to access the DPRK websites, in English and Japanese, by surfing the Internet. The ROK National Security Law bans unauthorized communication and contact with the DPRK, so "those who are seen to access the Pyongyang websites in an unusual manner and often, could be punished under the law," the official warned. (Korea Herald, "ACCESS TO NORTH KOREA'S WEBSITES HERE INVESTIGATED," 10/30/97)
A group of Japanese woman who married DPRK citizens will arrive in Tokyo on November 8, to see their families for the first time in decades, officials said Thursday. Most of the 15 women are in their sixties, and the eldest is 84 years old. The women will only stay in Japan for a week and will be accompanied by DPRK Red Cross officials as "guides." The DPRK government also reportedly lured the women to return, with propaganda describing the country as "a paradise on earth" with free education and medical care for everyone. (Korea Times, "FIRST GROUP OF JAPANESE EXILED WIVES IN NK TO ARRIVE NEXT WEEK," 10/30/97)
3. ROK-Turkey Talks on Nuclear Power
The ROK asked Turkey during their sixth annual joint economic meeting in Seoul Tuesday to allow ROK companies to participate in Turkey's nuclear power plant construction project. The ROK also suggested that the two countries sign an agreement on the peaceful use of atomic power. (Korea Herald, "KOREA, TURKEY DISCUSS PEACEFUL USE OF N-POWER," 10/30/97)
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Wade L. Huntley: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States
Shin Dong-bom: dongbom.shin@anu.edu.au
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Choi Chung-moon: cily@star.elim.co.kr
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Hiroyasu Akutsu: akutsu@glocomnet.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan
Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation
Chunsi Wu: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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