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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Monday, June 29, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. Captured DPRK Submarine
Agence-France Presse ("N. KOREA WILL MEET U.N. COMMAND TO DISCUSS
SUBMARINE," Seoul, 06/28/98) reported that unnamed ROK government sources
said Monday that the DPRK and the UN Command would hold top-level
military talks Tuesday in Panmunjom to discuss the captured DPRK
submarine. One unnamed source stated, "North Korea had proposed the
meeting be held [Monday], but we decided it was better tomorrow."
The Associated Press ("SKOREA: NKOREA AGENTS LEFT FOR SUB," Seoul,
06/29/98) and United Press International ("S.KOREA SAYS SUB BOUND FOR
HOME," Seoul, 06/28/98) reported that the ROK Defense Ministry said
Monday that three espionage agents from the captured DPRK submarine were
in the ROK briefly but had returned to the sub and were among the crewmen
found dead. The ministry ruled out the possibility that any agents
remained behind in the ROK. Brigadier General Park Sung-chun stated, "An
operational logbook in the form of memos and other items seized indicate
that there were no extra agents who had infiltrated into the country."
The Defense Ministry said the documents in the submarine showed it left
Wonsan on June 20 and arrived off the ROK East Coast the following day.
Three agents came ashore and stayed for about an hour. The ministry
speculated that, in view of their short stay on land, the agents' mission
might have been to establish contact with spies already in the ROK. The
Joongang Ilbo cited military officials as saying that the spy team may
have infiltrated to check out the new international airport being built
at Yangyang city. Meanwhile, ROK President Kim Dae-jung on Monday asked
the DPRK to admit the incursion and take action to prevent a recurrence.
He added that the episode would not affect his policy of expanding
civilian exchanges and increasing government cooperation with the DPRK.
The Associated Press ("NORTH KOREA DEMANDS RETURN OF DEAD," Seoul,
06/27/98) and Reuters ("N. KOREA DEMANDS RETURN OF SUBMARINE CREW," Tokyo
06/27/98) reported that the DPRK's Korean Central News Agency quoted a
spokesman for the DPRK's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the
Fatherland on Saturday as blaming the ROK for the death of nine crewmen
aboard the captured DPRK submarine. The spokesman stated, "The South
Korean authorities should be held responsible for the death of the
crewmen because they did not save them in time." He added, "We also
wonder how the crewmen died." The spokesman said, "They should
immediately stop trying to render the situation on the Korean peninsula
strained again and should send the corpses of the crewmen and submarine
to our side at once."
2. ROK-DPRK Economic Cooperation
The Washington Post (Mary Jordan, "SPY SUBMARINE HASN'T SUNK PLAN TO
FERRY TOURS TO NORTH KOREA," Sokcho, 06/27/98, A17) reported that Hyundai
founder Chung Ju-yung's plan to implement a ferry service to take ROK
tourists to the DPRK's Mt. Kumgang has not been scuttled by the capture
of a DPRK submarine. ROK President Kim Dae-jung was quoted as saying,
"That a herd of cattle was sent to North Korea through Panmunjom and an
agreement reached with the North for the development of Kumgang Mountain
for tourism is the first step and an expression of our intentions" to
improve commercial relations with the DPRK. On Friday, ROK Unification
Minister Kang In-duk called the tourism project "highly feasible." He
said that Chung had contracts signed by the DPRK ruling party and that
they appear to have the backing of Kim Jong-il. Kang also said that he
believed the DPRK would guarantee the passengers' safety. Twenty Hyundai
officials are scheduled to leave for the DPRK soon to work on details of
the plan.
3. Light-Water Reactor Project
The Associated Press ("KEDO MULLS COST SHARING FOR N. KOREAN NUCLEAR
POWER PROJECT," Brussels, 06/29/98) reported that the Korean Peninsula
Energy Development Organization (KEDO) opened a four-day meeting Sunday
to discuss how to share the cost of supplying two light-water nuclear
reactors to the DPRK. ROK officials expressed doubt that KEDO will
resolve the cost-sharing issue this week. A Japanese diplomat said that
Japan would not seek to reduce its share despite the country's current
financial difficulties. A spokesman for the European Union (EU)
Commission said that the EU wants to contribute ECU75 million (US$82.5
million) over five years.
4. ROK-Japan Fisheries Dispute
The Associated Press ("SOUTH KOREA TO RESTORE FISHING BAN IN WATERS CLOSE
TO JAPAN," Seoul, 06/29/98) reported that the ROK Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade said Monday that it will restore a ban on fishing by
ROK boats in waters close to Japan. The action will become effective
Wednesday, one day before officials of both countries will meet in Seoul
to discuss revising the two countries' fisheries agreement.
5. US-PRC Arms Control Agreements
The Associated Press ("U.S.-CHINA TALKS YIELD MISSILE PACT," Beijing,
06/27/98) and Reuters (Carol Giacomo, "U.S., CHINA TO DE-TARGET
MISSILES," Beijing, 06/27/98) reported that US President Bill Clinton and
PRC President Jiang Zemin reached an agreement to detarget their
respective countries' nuclear weapons from each other. The PRC also
agreed to expand its list of controlled exports to include chemicals,
equipment, and technology that could be used for production of chemical
weapons. Regarding US refusal to sign a pledge not to be the first to
use nuclear weapons, Clinton stated, "We have not changed our position,
nor are we prepared to do so on that." The PRC also agreed to move
toward imposing stiffer export controls on missile technology to Third
World nations with nuclear ambitions, and to "actively study" formally
adopting the arms-control guidelines of the Missile Technology Control
Regime. The PRC and the US jointly pledged not to export to Pakistan or
India missiles, missile equipment, or materials capable of delivering
nuclear weapons. The agreement covers only medium- and long-range
missiles. The two countries called for strengthening a biological
weapons convention and affirmed their "commitment to ending the export
and indiscriminate use of antipersonnel land mines and to accelerating
global humanitarian demining." The PRC said it would let the US check
that high-technology US products exported to the PRC are being used for
approved purposes and are not being resold. Michael Krepon, head of the
Henry L. Stimson Center, said that the detargeting agreement is "part of
an evolutionary trend in Chinese arms control policy. They are moving
away from rhetoric and toward modest but more practical approaches." He
added, "I'd see this as not earth-shattering but part of a useful trend."
6. Taiwanese Views of US-PRC Summit
The Associated Press ("TAIWAN ALSO WANTS ATTENTION OF U.S.," Taipei,
06/28/98) and the New York Times (Nicholas D. Kristof, "TAIWAN NERVOUSLY
TOASTS CLINTON'S VISIT TO CHINA," Taipei, 06/29/98) reported that Taiwan
Vice President Lien Chan said Sunday that he was "pleased to see" signs
of warmth in ties between the PRC and the US resulting from President
Clinton's visit. However, he stressed that developments must not come at
the expense of Taiwan. He added, "On his visit, President Clinton saw
the cultural, historical and economic China. I regret he was not able to
see the free, democratic China." Meanwhile, Taiwan Foreign Minister
Jason Hu stated, "The United States has thoroughly honored its initial
promise not to damage Taiwan's interests." He added that the US would
send an official to brief Taiwan on the content of the talks after
Clinton's visit. In his opening statement at Saturday's news conference
in Beijing, Clinton said only that he "reaffirmed our longstanding one-
China policy" to PRC President Jiang Zemin, and encouraged the PRC to
expand dialogue with Taiwan. David Lee, Taiwanese deputy foreign
minister, stated, "We're relieved so far. At least from the public
information so far, we haven't heard anything alarming." Parris Chang,
chairman of the defense committee in Taiwan's Parliament, stated, "To be
candid, I don't think we have much leverage to prevent Clinton from doing
something about Taiwan, because we're so dependent on America. But we
will try to use moral persuasion to shame Clinton so that he does not
appease a Communist dictatorship by sacrificing a democratic country like
Taiwan."
7. Taiwan-PRC Relations
The Associated Press ("TAIWAN DENOUNCES CHINA POLICY," Taipei, 06/27/98)
reported that Taiwan Vice President Lien Chan on Saturday denounced the
PRC for refusing to rule out military action against the island. Lien
said that the PRC "must not downgrade and suppress us or threaten the use
of force against us as it sees fit." He added that the two sides "should
exert mutual respect and enhance exchanges." Lien reiterated that Taiwan
is seeking reunification with the PRC, but not before the latter becomes
free and democratic. He cautioned that Taiwan must try to avoid leaving
the world an impression that "we tend to make troubles and tend to move
toward independence."
8. Taiwanese Military
The Associated Press (Annie Huang, "NEW FIGHTERS, PHILOSOPHY IN TAIWAN,"
Hsinchu Air Base, 06/27/98) reported that Taiwan's military has shifted
its focus from tanks and landing craft for a possible invasion of the PRC
to defensive weaponry such as warplanes and frigates. Colonel Chang
Nien-hua, the top administrator at the Hsinchu Air Base, stated, "If the
communists dare launch an attack, they'd better come prepared to lose
their arms or legs - if not get killed." Taiwan has spent US$15 billion
on Mirage and F-16 fighter aircraft, and six French-built Lafayette
frigates. It has leased six Knox-class missile frigates, bought new
tanks, developed its own advanced cruise and ballistic missiles, and
acquired a US-made anti-missile defense system. Military officials are
confident that the new air force will have superiority over the PRC's
People's Liberation Army and plan to buy more anti-submarine warfare
planes to strengthen sea defense.
9. South Asian Nuclear Arms Race
Reuters ("CLINTON SAYS INDIA, PAKISTAN RISK ARMS RACE," Beijing,
06/29/98) reported that US President Bill Clinton said on Monday that
India and Pakistan were defying a world movement against nuclear danger
and risking an arms race in South Asia. Clinton stated that the PRC and
the US "are now pursuing a common strategy to move India and Pakistan
away from further testing and toward a dialogue to resolve their
differences." A joint statement issued after Clinton's summit with PRC
President Jiang Zemin on Saturday condemned the South Asian nuclear tests
and reiterated that the tests would not allow India and Pakistan to
become recognized nuclear powers. The two presidents called on India and
Pakistan to join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty and to refrain from building nuclear weapons or the
missiles to deliver them.
Reuters ("INDIA BLASTS CHINA, US FOR NUKE REMARKS," New Delhi, 06/28/98)
reported that an Indian government statement on Sunday criticized the PRC
and the US for a "hegemonistic mentality" in pledging to work together to
head off a nuclear arms race in South Asia. The statement said, "India
categorically rejects the notion of these two countries arrogating to
themselves joint or individual responsibility for 'the maintenance of
peace, stability and security in the region'." It added, "It is most
ironical that two countries that have directly and indirectly contributed
to the unabated proliferation of nuclear weapons and delivery systems in
our neighborhood are now presuming to prescribe the norms for non-
proliferation." The statement said that India "cannot consider" calls to
curtail nuclear weapons and missile development and would follow its own
security needs. Regarding US-PRC offers of mediation between India and
Pakistan, the statement said that "there is no place for any kind of
third-party involvement whatsoever." Meanwhile, the Indian Prime
Minister's special envoy, Jaswant Singh, said on Monday that he hoped to
meet with US Assistant Secretary of State Strobe Talbott fairly soon to
restore "mutual confidence" between India and the US. Singh added that
India was prepared to talk about "any aspect" of Kashmir with Pakistan.
10. Indian Missile Development
United Press International (Frank Sietzen Jr, "INDIAN NUKE MISSILE BASED
ON NASA ROCKET," Washington, 06/25/98) reported that Gary Milhollin, head
of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, told the US Congress on
Thursday that the largest Indian nuclear missile is based on a NASA
scientific space booster. Milhollin said that India's chief missile
designer, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, visited NASA's Langley Research Center in
Virginia in 1963 and 1964 and studied the Scout rocket NASA was then
using to launch small research payloads into space. NASA officials said
that Indian engineers who visited with Kalam saw the blueprints of the
Scout during their stay. Milhollin added that the Indian government
asked NASA in subsequent years for additional design information about
the Scout. He said that India's first space booster, the SLV- 3, was an
exact duplicate of the Scout, and was used by India's military to create
the first stage of their Agni nuclear missile. The missile's second
stage is based on a Russian surface-to-air missile design, supplemented
by French liquid rocket propulsion technology, and the guidance system
came from the German Space Agency. Milhollin argued, "India's biggest
nuclear missile is an international project. We and our allies helped
India, believing it was for peaceful space cooperation." He added that
the case of the Agni proved beyond any doubt "that you cannot help a
country build space launchers without helping it build missiles." He
suggested that US space assistance should be limited to countries "that
share our commitment to nuclear and missile non-proliferation."
11. Pakistani Nuclear Tests
The Associated Press ("PAKISTAN WAITED 6 DAYS AFTER INDIA TESTS TO
PREPARE ITS OWN," Islamabad, 06/29/98) reported that the government-run
Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said Monday that Pakistan waited six
days after India conducted its five underground nuclear tests last month
before beginning preparations for its own tests. The APP said that the
first five devices were exploded some 9,240 meters below the ground in a
concrete-sealed tunnel. Dr. Ishfaq Ahmed, chairman of Pakistan's Atomic
Energy Commission, was quoted as saying that the tunnel is still sealed
and that it will take another six to eight months to collect data from
the tests. The sixth device, identified as a "miniaturized device," was
exploded in a 120-meter shaft in the nearby Kharan desert on May 30 and
had a yield of about 60 percent of the first tests. The APP quoted
Information Minister Mushahid Hussein as saying, "The tests have imbued
the Pakistani nation with the will and courage to stand on its own feet
and (have been) an inspiration for self-reliance."
12. Russian-EU Nuclear Cooperation
The Associated Press ("E.U.-RUSSIA AGENCY ON NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
PROPOSED," Moscow, 06/29/98) reported that the ITAR-Tass news agency said
Monday that Russian Atomic Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov proposed
creating a joint Russia-European Union commission to consider
transferring nuclear technology for civilian uses. Adamov also said that
Russia wants to join France and Germany in developing a new type of
pressurized water nuclear reactor. He also called on European countries
to join a Russia-led project to invent a reactor that would virtually
eliminate the possibility of nuclear catastrophe.
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