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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Friday, February 20, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. Six-Party Peace Talks Proposal
The AP-Dow Jones News Service ("N. KOREA CALLS SIX-NATION JOINT PEACE DECLARATION
'SILLY'," Seoul, 02/20/98) and Reuters ("NORTH KOREA THROWS COLD WATER ON WARMING
TIES," Tokyo, 02/20/98) reported that the DPRK, in a report carried by its official Korean Central News
Agency on Friday, rejected the recent ROK proposal of a "six-nation joint declaration" on the Korean
peninsula. The report stated, "The call may sound good. But it is a silly and dangerous plan." Aides to
ROK President-elect Kim Dae-jung said that the six-nation declaration is patterned after the 1975 "Helsinki
declaration," in which the US and other world powers pledged their commitment to peace in Europe. They
pointed to the Helsinki declaration as the foundation for German unification. However, the DPRK
responded that the present situation of Northeast Asia is different from that of Europe, as antagonism
persists between the two Koreas, which are technically in a state of war. It added, "Stability and peace
have not been ensured on the Korean peninsula not because there is no 'declaration' by its neighboring
nations but because the United States has still kept huge armed forces in South Korea and presented
military threat to the DPRK though the cold war ended long ago."
2. ROK-DPRK Talks
The Washington Post (Mary Jordan, "N. KOREA OFFERS DIALOGUE IN RARE OVERTURE," Tokyo,
02/20/98, A01) reported that many analysts see the offer of political dialogue that the DPRK made through
letters sent to ROK leaders as a significant gesture towards warming relations, because it appears to be a
concrete follow-up to conciliatory statements on Wednesday night by Workers' Party Secretary Kim Yong-
sun. US officials said that such remarks from the DPRK are rare, and that following up with hand-
delivered letters is nearly unheard of. However, the officials warned that while the DPRK's moves could
be "very dramatic," Kim Jong-il's long-term goals and intentions are still a mystery. A spokesman for
ROK President Kim Dae-jung said that further study of the letters is needed but that the proposals for
dialogue are welcome. He stated that the letters contain criticism of the outgoing Kim Young-sam
administration and state that the "change of the administration and the president does not automatically
open the way, but the key lies on changes of policy." Meanwhile, a spokesman for the ROK National
Unification Ministry said that the government on Thursday granted two advertising companies permission
to launch joint ventures in the DPRK to design ads to encourage foreign investment in the DPRK.
The Los Angeles Times carried an editorial ("BIG 'IF' OVER N. KOREA INITIATIVE," 02/20/98) which
said that if the DPRK is sincere in its desire to hold talks with incoming ROK President Kim Dae-jung, it
could lead to an unprecedented warming of relations between the two Koreas. However, the article added,
"that 'if' looms large, given North Korea's history of duplicity and erratic policy swings where the south is
concerned." The article argued that, while the DPRK claimed to be unwilling to improve relations with
Kim Young-sam's government due to Kim's failure to offer condolences on the death of Kim Il-sung,
"more likely Pyongyang decided to freeze relations while it sorted out how power would be apportioned in
the post-Kim [Il-sung] era." The author speculated that the DPRK may have decided to take a more
pragmatic approach, now that Kim Jong-il is firmly in command and a "moderate new government" is
about to be inaugurated in the ROK. It concluded that agreeing to a program to allow contact between
separated family members would be a good start for demonstrating the DPRK's sincerity.
3. Challenges for Incoming President
The Washington Times carried an analytical article by Richard Halloran ("KIM FACES 7 BIG
CHALLENGES," Honolulu, 02/20/98) which said that ROK President-elect Kim Dae-jung will face "seven
daunting challenges" in his new administration. The author argued, "Mr. Kim's success or failure will
determine not only the immediate future of Korea but the security posture of the United States in Northeast
Asia." The article listed Kim's challenges as leading the ROK out of its economic crisis; coping with a
"hostile" DPRK; consolidating his political position; reducing corruption; responding to "rising anti-
Americanism"; purging "residual anti-Japanese emotions that hinder Seoul's ability to recover
economically and to play a constructive role in Asia's international relations"; and encouraging ROK
citizens to accept responsibility for their own problems. The author argued, "To meet these challenges, Mr.
Kim will bring undisputed courage, a thirst for information that is the source of political power, a shrewd
analytical ability to set his own politics aside when calculating events and a lifetime of ambition."
4. 1973 Abduction of Kim Dae-jung
Reuters ("JAPAN RELUCTANT TO REOPEN CASE ON KIM ABDUCTION," Tokyo, 02/20/98)
reported that Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi said Friday that the case of the 1973 kidnapping of
Kim Dae-jung from a Tokyo hotel was already settled politically. Obuchi was referring to an agreement
between the governments of the ROK and Japan in 1975 to terminate the investigation by Tokyo police
into the kidnapping.
5. PRC-Taiwan Relations
The Associated Press ("TAIWAN TELLS CHINA TO ACT ON CALLS FOR TALKS," Taipei, 02/20/98)
reported that Taiwan Premier Vincent Siew on Friday urged the PRC to quickly resume talks with Taiwan.
Siew said that Taiwan would not limit the agenda, but hoped to focus on resolving fishing disputes,
repatriating hijackers, and other issues that the two sides had almost settled before the latest break in
negotiations. Also on Friday, Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian, the main opposition party's likely presidential
candidate, invited the mayors of Shanghai and Beijing to visit Taiwan. Chen stated, "Comprehensive
contacts are a necessary prerequisite for comprehensive negotiations."
1. ROK-DPRK Relations
ROK President-elect Kim Dae-jung, during an interview with CNN on February 19, said that he would
pursue inter-Korean talks once inaugurated. Kim said he was willing to consider various options such as
exchange of special envoys or a summit meeting to realize such a proposition. Kim added that, although
the ROK is in no condition to advance much aid to the DPRK, he prioritizes the light-water reactor and
food aid projects. (Dong-ah Ilbo, "DJ TO RESUME INTER-KOREAN TALKS; CNN," 02/20/98)
With just a month to go before the inauguration of ROK President-elect Kim Dae-jung, the DPRK said on
February 18 that it was willing to talk to any individual or group from the ROK. Kim Yong-sun, chairman
of the national unification committee in the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, said in an official
gathering, "We have to deepen our understanding and trust through contacts, declaring that we are ready to
talk and negotiate with political parties, organizations and anyone of the ROK." However, the president-
elect's camp maintains a watchful eye over the DPRK's peace gesture. (Korea Times, "NEW
ADMINISTRATION WATCHFUL OVER NK'S PEACE GESTURE," 02/19/98)
The Naewoo press reported on February 18 that the DPRK manifested a willingness to develop
collaborative ROK-DPRK relations during a Political Party-Organizations' Conference in Pyongyang. Kim
Yong-soon, the DPRK's national unification committee chair, urged the ROK through a Korea Central
News Agency radio broadcast to abolish the National Security Law, disband the Agency for National
Security Planning, and end joint military exercises. (Hankyoreh Shinmun, "DPRK CALLS FOR THE
DISBAND OF ROK'S NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY," 02/19/98)
2. UNC Proposes Military Talks
The UN Command (UNC) has proposed to the DPRK a meeting of top military brass of the ROK, the
DPRK, and the US, according to a UNC spokesman on February 19. The official said that the "UNC
strategic planning chief, Major General Ray Ayres of the US Army, sent to Lieutenant-General Li Chan-
bok, chief of the DPRK representative office in Panmunjom, a letter proposing such a meeting on February
11." The UNC spokesman said the meeting, although unlikely to happen, will deal with such matters as
how to reduce tension along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The official added that the proposal was
made after full consultation with officials from both the outgoing and incoming ROK governments.
(Korea Times, Oh Young-jin, "UNC SIDESTEPS NK DEMAND FOR EXCLUSIVE CONTACT WITH
US," 02/19/98)
3. US Embargo on DPRK
Sources reported on February 20 that the US government is reviewing a partial lifting of its economic
embargo against the DPRK should it see positive results from the second round of four party peace talks on
March 16. According to a US State Department official, the US may well allow US companies to set up
branch offices in the DPRK and to transfer food manufacturing techniques. (Joongang Ilbo, "US TO LIFT
EMBARGO AGAINST DPRK," 02/21/98)
4. DPRK Expels ROK Defector
A man named Choi who had sought defection to the DPRK through the PRC last December was expelled
from the DPRK after a month-long interrogation, the ROK Agency for National Security Planning (NSP)
announced on February 18. According to the NSP, Choi was arrested upon his return to the ROK at Kimpo
International Airport on the morning of February 18 on charges of violating the National Security Law. It
was quite unusual for the DPRK to expel an ROK citizen seeking to defect, the agency added. (Korea
Times, Son Key-young, "NK EXPELS DEFECTOR FROM ROK," 02/19/98)
5. DPRK Food Aid
Kim Dong-soo, a former DPRK representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome
who defected to the ROK on February 4, gave a press conference on February 18. Kim revealed that
international food donations to the DPRK are being directed to the military and stored underground. Kim
had overheard his boss Kim Hong-lim, Chief Representative of the DPRK branch of the FAO in Rome,
make such remarks. Kim added that the ongoing four party peace talks negotiations are a ploy by the
DPRK to get additional food assistance from the US, the ROK, and Japan, and that statistical data on the
food shortage are exaggerated, though not completely unfounded. (Chosun Ilbo, "NORTH
TRANSFERRING FOOD AID TO ITS MILITARY: DEFECTOR," 02/19/98)
6. DPRK-ROK-Japan Sea Route
Professor Kim Soo-yong of Kim Il-sung University announced on February 18 that the DPRK intends to
open a ferry route linking Rajin with Pusan and Fukuoka. The DPRK hopes to promote tourism and trade
through this sea route between the DPRK, the ROK, and Japan. Professor Kim's announcement was made
during the 1998 Niigata Northeast Asia Economic Conference. (Hankyoreh Shinmun, "DPRK HOPES TO
OPEN SEA ROUTE TO LINK NEIGHBORS," 02/19/98)
1. 1973 Abduction of Kim Dae-jung
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("ROK PAPER REPORTS ON KCIA'S INVOLVEMENT IN KIM DAE-JUNG'S
ABDUCTION," Seoul, 02/19/98) reported that the ROK paper Dong-A Ilbo said on February 19 that it had
obtained a secret report by the Korea Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA), which reveals the agency's
involvement in the 1973 abduction of Kim Dae-jung. Dong-A Ilbo also cited former KCIA high-ranking
official Lee Chol-hee as saying that then-KCIA head Lee Hu-rak ordered the abduction. According to the
name list in the KCIA report, twenty five KCIA officials took Kim Dae-jung from Osaka to Pusan in a boat
with twenty one crew members on board. Lee Chol-hee told the newspaper, "Lee Hu-rak called me to his
office in the spring of 1973 and told me to bring Kim Dae-jung over here at any cost, and a team of our
overseas agents abducted him." Lee Chol-hee also said that although he and Ha Tae-Joon were opposed to
the idea, Lee Hu-rak forced them to do it. Although Kim Dae-jung said that he was almost thrown into the
sea from the boat on its way to the ROK, Lee Chol-hee denied that the KCIA intended to kill him. The
article added that whether then-President Park Chung-hee knew in advance about the abduction is still
unclear.
2. Japanese-Russian Relations
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("AN ISLAND IN MIE PREFECTURE IS MOST-LIKELY PLACE FOR JAPAN-
RUSSIA SUMMIT," 02/20/98) reported that, according to governmental sources on February 19, an island
in Mie Prefecture is likely to be the place for the Japan-Russia summit meeting slated for April 10-14. The
summit was already agreed to in the Hashimoto-Yeltsin meeting in Russia in October, 1997, and will be
officially decided during Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi's visit to Moscow, slated for February
23.
3. DPRK Defector
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("CAPITALISM PREVAILS AMONG DPRK LEADERS," Seoul, 02/18/98)
reported that former DPRK Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official Kim Dong-su, who defected
to the ROK, said to reporters in Seoul on February 18, "Capitalism is prevailing among the North Korean
leaders," suggesting that the collapse of the country's economic system is affecting the maintenance of its
socialist regime. He pointed out that a factor behind this is the ongoing food shortage, saying, "Farmers
are concentrated on growing vegetables and livestock for sale and are not concerned about their state-
owned farms." He also said that he was told by the DPRK Foreign Ministry to draw food aid from Japan
through the Four Party Peace Talks, while keeping a high-profile to Japan as part of the DPRK's food aid
diplomacy.
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