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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Thursday, March 5, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. ROK Aid for DPRK
The Associated Press ("S. KOREA MULLS AID FOR N. KOREA," Seoul, 03/04/98) reported that chief
ROK presidential spokesman Park Ji-won said Thursday that the ROK government will consider providing
the DPRK with about 100,000 tons of emergency food aid. He stated, "We will continue to help North
Korea with food aid, and we are willing to provide it when the North wants it." Cabinet ministers will meet
as early as Friday to decide on the aid.
2. DPRK Medical Situation
The Associated Press ("GROUP: N. KOREA HOSPITALS AILING," Rome, 03/04/98) reported that Kathi
Zellweger of the Hong Kong office of the Catholic charity Caritas said Wednesday that the DPRK's
hospitals are so short of supplies that some sick people do not bother going to them. She stated, "The
health care system is failing." Zellweger, who took a weeklong tour of the DPRK in late February, added,
"There are no drugs, little food for patients. So why go in hospitals?" She also said that water shortages,
caused by drought and worsened by the lack of snowfall, created hygiene problems that have led to
illnesses like diarrhea. She added, "The misery is spread out over the whole country, with certain extreme
pockets of poverty." Caritas has appealed for US$6.2 million to buy food for 370,000 people, fertilizer,
seed, and medical supplies.
3. ROK Cabinet
Reuters (Yeom Yoon-Jeong, "SOUTH KOREA WRANGLES OVER PARLIAMENT SESSION
OPENING," Seoul, 03/05/98) reported that Han Hwa-gap of the ruling National Congress for New Politics
(NCNP) said that the ROK National Assembly might not meet on Friday to vote on President Kim Dae-
jung's nomination as prime minister because rival parties are still fighting over the agenda. Han stated,
"Without reaching an agreement on the agenda, it's impossible to proceed with the session." He said that
the governing party wanted to delay Kim Jong-pil's confirmation vote and instead pass a supplementary
budget bill and other legislation. An official of the United Liberal Democrats (ULD) said that floor leaders
of the two ruling parties would meet late on Thursday to discuss what to do. He stated, "As the Grand
National Party (GNP) unilaterally called for the session, we haven't yet decided to join in it. After the floor
leaders meeting, they would suggest convening the parliamentary session early next week instead of
tomorrow." Meanwhile, NCNP lawmakers issued a statement on Thursday demanding cooperation from
the opposition. The statement said, "If we show the slightest fault, or drag out economic reform, our
international credibility will crumble and we can face national default." However, GNP spokesman Maeng
Hyung-kyu said Thursday, "Kim Jong-pil cannot act as the prime minister before the National Assembly
confirms him. But Kim controls and leads the cabinet. It's against constitutional law and should be
stopped immediately."
4. ROK Financial Crisis
The AP-Dow Jones News Service (Park Kyung-hee, "S. KOREA'S '98 ECONOMY SEEN
CONTRACTING 0.9% VS 1997'S 5.9%," Seoul, 03/05/98) reported that the Korea Development Institute
(KDI) said Thursday that it estimated that the ROK economy would show a decline of 0.9 percent this year,
compared with an estimated growth of 5.9 percent last year. It added that the country's current account is
expected to swing to a surplus of US$25.3 billion at the end of this year due to the weak won versus the US
dollar and declining imports on lower demand. Inflation is projected to rise by 9.4 percent this year, up
from last year's average of 4.5 percent. Unemployment is estimated to climb by about 6 percent, putting
1.3 million workers out of jobs. However, KDI said that the country's economy is expected to recover next
year with the GDP rising 2.8 percent and 4.9 percent in 2000 as domestic investment is expected to
increase with restructuring in companies and financial institutions progressing smoothly. Hence,
unemployment will fall to a level of around 3 percent after 2000, it added.
5. Land Mine Ban
The Washington Post ("FOR THE RECORD," 03/05/98, A20) reported that General John H. Tilelli,
commander in chief of US forces in the ROK, testified Tuesday by before a hearing of the Senate Armed
Services Committee. Tilelli stated, "There's still a significant military threat looming north of the Korean
Demilitarized Zone.... The desperate situation in the north is disconcerting to us all." Tilelli stated that the
1996 Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which prohibits the use of land mines, other than along the
demilitarized zone, in defensive zones from February of 1999 will inhibit US ability to defend against a
DPRK invasion. He stated, "Under the moratorium, I will not be allowed to use remotely in-place self-
destructing smart mines to help block penetrations and shape the battlefields during conflict." He added,
"These systems are critical components of my overall defensive plans, and they are also technologically
advanced, highly reliable and not responsible for the humanitarian crisis caused by the indiscriminate use
of so-called dumb, anti-personnel mines." Tilelli concluded, "until we can find suitable alternatives in
accordance with the president's directive, the ... moratorium causes me concern, and I ask that you not
allow the moratorium to go in effect as scheduled."
6. Japanese Financial Officials Arrested
The Associated Press ("2 JAPAN MINISTRY OFFICIALS ARRESTED," Tokyo, 03/05/98) reported that
Takashi Sakakibara, a section chief in the Japan Finance Ministry's securities division, and Toshio Miyano,
a senior inspector in the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission, were arrested Thursday on
suspicion of accepting bribes from financial companies. The arrests came amid reports of a widening
probe of influence-peddling by officials with regulatory authority over Japan's financial industry.
1. Inter-Korean Talks
The ROK will push for bilateral contacts with the DPRK during the second round of four-way peace talks
slated for March 16 in Geneva, an official of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on
March 4. The official said that the ROK will propose bilateral talks to be held for two days just before the
four party peace talks on March 16-20. The ROK wants to discuss issues regarding the implementation of
a 1991 inter-Korean basic agreement, reunion of separated families, and other conciliatory measures.
(Korea Herald, Kim Kyung-ho, "SEOUL PLANS TO PUSH FOR S-N CONTACT DURING 4-WAY
TALKS," 03/05/98)
2. ROK Policy Toward DPRK
President Kim Dae-jung on March 4 completed his choices of those who will fill positions related to DPRK
policy with the appointment of Lee Jong-chan as the new chief of the Agency for National Security
Planning. The President's DPRK policy is expected to be fine-tuned by Secretary for Foreign Affairs and
Security Lim Dong-won, Unification Minister Kang In-duck, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Park
Chung-soo, Defense Minister Chun Yong-taek, and the new chief of the NSP. One noticeable fact is that
they are mostly politicians from the ruling National Congress for New Politics (NCNP) and its coalition
partner, the United Liberal Democrats (ULD). The new officials range from conservative to progressive on
DPRK affairs, with the ULD members largely representing the former and the NCNP members, the latter.
(Korea Herald, Kim Ji-soo, "DPRK POLICY TEAM MIXTURE OF CONSERVATIVE,
PROGRESSIVE," 03/05/98)
3. DPRK Energy
The DPRK has increased fuel imports from the PRC in the face of shortages that allegedly left the country's
transport system paralyzed. The DPRK imported 134.8 tons of gasoline and 29.5 tons of diesel oil from
the PRC between January 1 and February 11, accounting for 74 percent of DPRK oil imports, Xinhua
News Agency reported on March 4. "As the country enters into its lumber harvesting season, it is seeking
more imports of fuel, which is in short supply," the report said. (Korea Times, "N. KOREAN FUEL
IMPORTS FROM PRC INCREASE," 03/05/98)
4. DPRK Food Aid
ROK Foreign Minister Park Jung-soo said in a news conference on March 4 that the government intends to
provide the DPRK with a substantial amount of food aid. The aid package, which is expected to amount to
just under 200 thousand tons, would be handed over via direct government channels or the Red Cross. In
addition, the ROK government is to propose agricultural cooperation between the two Koreas to
permanently solve the DPRK's chronic food shortages. (Chosun Ilbo, "ROK TO SUPPLY DPRK WITH
FOOD AID," 03/05/98)
5. DPRK Espionage in Russia
The intelligence services of Iran, the PRC, and the DPRK have stepped up their activities in Russia in
recent years, a Russian senior security official said on March 4. The three nations concentrate their
intelligence activities on obtaining military and industrial secrets, said Colonel General Alexander
Tsarenko, deputy chief of the Federal Security Bureau. Iran, the PRC and the DPRK are ready to use any
means and spend much to achieve their ends, he said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency. (Korea
Times, "IRAN, PRC, DPRK STEP UP INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING," 03/05/98)
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Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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