|
Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Friday, July 10, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. US Sanctions against DPRK
The Wall Street Journal (Eduardo Lachica, "U.S., AHEAD OF MEETING, WEIGHS
EASING CURBS ON NORTH KOREA," Washington, 07/10/98) reported that US and
ROK officials will meet in Hawaii next week to discuss the possibility of
easing US sanctions against the DPRK. While some of the sanctions
invoked for terrorism or arms proliferation can not be rescinded without
action by the US Congress, US President Bill Clinton has the authority to
make case-by-case exemptions to sanctions imposed under the Trading with
the Enemy Act. A recent Council on Foreign Relations report said that
providing waivers to allow the DPRK to trade minerals for food, farm
machinery, and other US products would "force North Korea to feed itself
based on commercial terms rather than begging." An unnamed US State
Department official said that the Honolulu meeting would focus on
possible conditions that would justify changes in the status of the
sanctions. Charles Kartman, a deputy assistant secretary of state, will
head the US delegation, and his counterpart will be Kwon Jong-rak, the
director general for North American affairs at the ROK foreign ministry.
Legislative aides said that DPRK officials appear to be convinced that
their country can not attract foreign investment from any other country
unless the US first removes sanctions.
2. DPRK Missile Development
The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, "COHEN SAYS NORTH KOREAN MISSILE IS BIG
THREAT," Washington, 07/10/98) reported that US Defense Secretary William
S. Cohen said Thursday, in a press conference with ROK Defense Minister
Chun Yong-taek, that the Defense Department is worried about the DPRK's
new medium-range Nodong missile. Cohen stated, "North Korea has
completed its development of the Nodong missile, but I am not in a
position to comment in terms of when or where or how there has been a
deployment of the missile itself." He added, "It's of concern,
obviously, should it be deployed, and we will watch it very closely."
Cohen also said, "We are working aggressively to develop theater missile
defenses" to counter the DPRK missile threat. Chun said that the Nodong
is ready to be used and that the DPRK is "able to field these weapons
when necessary." Military officials said that the DPRK's military
strategy in a war would be to inflict the maximum damage on ROK and US
forces on the Korean peninsula and in Japan as quickly as possible, using
missile attacks as a key component.
3. Light-Water Reactor Project
The Associated Press ("SKOREA SURE OF FUEL DEAL WITH NORTH," Washington,
07/09/98) reported that Chun Yong-Taek, ROK minister of national defense,
said Thursday that he believes that the heavy fuel oil deal with the DPRK
will be resolved without a crisis. Chun said that his meetings with US
Defense Secretary William Cohen were successful in dealing with the two
countries' military cooperation and the ROK's financial support for US
forces based on the peninsula. Cohen stated, "We also discussed the
threat that North Korea poses, despite the collapse of its economy, and
the importance of keeping the United States and South Korean forces
strong and ready as we pursue reconciliation talks about the Korean
Peninsula."
4. DPRK Food Crisis
The Associated Press ("SKOREA SURE OF FUEL DEAL WITH NORTH," Washington,
07/09/98) reported that Erich Weingartner, a Canadian citizen who works
as DPRK liaison with the World Food Program (WFP) said Thursday that the
nutritional needs of DPRK children under age 7 are being met to a far
greater degree than a year ago as a result of increased access to remote
areas by the WFP. Weingartner said that the more liberal attitude of
DPRK authorities toward allowing the WFP access to the interior of the
country was "phenomenal" and "remarkable." However, he added that while
young children have benefited, the situation of DPRK citizens age 7 and
older remains extremely difficult. People unable to rely on the national
food distribution program have been foraging for edible grass, mushrooms,
bark, and seaweed. He said that the government's daily rations have been
reduced in recent years from 31.5 ounces a day for adults to a "barely
survivable" 14 ounces. He added that DPRK officials consider it an
embarrassment that the country is so dependent on outside aid.
The Associated Press ("WEATHER HURTING N. KOREA CROPS," Seoul, 07/09/98)
reported that the DPRK's state-run Korean Central News Agency said
Thursday that weather conditions have diminished the potato, barley, and
wheat crops. The agency said that the early planting season was marked
by drought, while tidal waves and a cold spell in June damaged crops
along the eastern coast and in the interior. The report stated, "So the
harvest of early crops, including potato, barley and wheat, cannot be
expected.... An increasing number of households are running short of
food." The agency also said that the PRC has completed shipping a
donation of 100,000 tons of food and 20,000 tons of fertilizer.
5. ROK-Russian Spying Row
Reuters ("EXPELLED RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT LEAVES SOUTH KOREA," Seoul, 07/10/98)
reported that an ROK foreign ministry official said Friday that Russian
diplomat Oleg Abramkin left the ROK. He added, "The South Korean
government is now watching how Moscow will respond. We will determine
our next move according to theirs." Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Prime
Minister Oleg Syusev indefinitely canceled a trip to Seoul this week to
discuss the payments of loans owed by Russia to the ROK and other issues.
Russian foreign ministry officials said he canceled the trip to deal with
a miners' strike back home.
6. ROK Labor Unrest
The Associated Press (Sang-Hun Choe, "PRESS S. KOREA WORKERS TO ORGANIZE
STRIKE," Seoul, 07/10/98) and Dow Jones Newswires ("UNIONS TO WITHDRAW
FROM TALKS IN PROTEST OF 'ILLEGAL' LAYOFFS," Seoul, 07/10/98) reported
that the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation
of Trade Unions said Friday that they will withdraw from talks with the
government and corporate leaders in protest of layoffs and government
restructuring. Park In-sang, leader of the Federation of Korean Trade
Unions, demanded that the government and employers rehire workers who
were "illegally" laid off and punish employers committing "illegal" labor
misdeeds. He also demanded that the government discuss restructuring of
state-run corporations and financial institutions within the three-way
labor consultative talks. Meanwhile, Lee Kap-yong, head of the Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions, said that its 550,000 members would go
ahead with a planned strike July 14-15. The Korean Confederation will
seek joint strikes with the 1.2 million-member Federation of Korean Trade
Unions after the two-day strike.
7. US Policy toward Taiwan
United Press International ("SENATE APPROVES TAIWAN RESOLUTION,"
Washington, 07/10/98), the Associated Press (Tom Raum, "SENATE REITERATES
TAIWAN POLICY," Washington, 07/10/98) and Reuters ("SENATE VOTES TO
REAFFIRM U.S. SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN," Washington, 07/10/98) reported that
the US Senate voted 92-0 to reaffirm US support for Taiwan. The non-
binding resolution urges US President Bill Clinton to seek the PRC's
renunciation of the use of force against Taiwan, to reaffirm the 1979
Taiwan Relations Act, and to assure Taiwan there has been no date set for
an end to arms sales. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss.,
argued, "China refuses to take the use of force off the table. We should
not unilaterally deny Taiwan membership to international organizations.
And should not take action in concert with the dictatorship in Beijing."
Lott also said that the Senate would follow up the resolution with
hearings "to try to understand the administration's new policy on
Taiwan."
8. PRC-Taiwan Relations
The Washington Post (John Pomfret, "CHINA TELLS TAIWAN TO 'FACE REALITY'
REUNIFICATION TALKS URGED," Beijing, 07/10/98, A28) reported that PRC
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang on Thursday urged Taiwan to
agree to talks on eventual reunification. Tang said that US President
Bill Clinton's statement on Taiwan has "positive implications for the
resolution of the Taiwan question. He added, "We hope that Taiwan
authorities will get a clear understanding of the situation, face reality
and place importance on the national interest." The official China Daily
quoted Tang Shubei, vice president of the Association for Relations
Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), as saying that Clinton's remarks had
"provided favorable conditions for the development of cross-strait
relations." He added, however, that "cross-strait issues will ultimately
be solved by the Chinese people." Meanwhile, ARATS' Taiwanese
counterpart, the semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF),
announced that ARATS Deputy Secretary General Li Yafei could visit Taiwan
July 24-31. Li's visit is to be followed by a reciprocal trip to the PRC
by the leader of SEF, Koo Chen-fu, in mid-September.
9. Taiwanese Diplomacy
The Associated Press (Annie Huang, "TAIWAN STARTS DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE,"
Taipei, 07/09/98) reported that the Taiwan Foreign Ministry said Thursday
that 11 Latin American, African, and Caribbean countries have proposed
that the UN reconsider its 1971 resolution to exclude Taiwan and admit
the PRC. Hsia Li-yen, head of the Ministry's Department of International
Organizations, stated, "We don't have any illusion of entering the United
Nations in a short period of time. But we want to highlight the issue by
bringing it up again." Meanwhile, Taiwan Economics Minister Wang Chih-
kang will lead a 65-member delegation to six European countries to
promise investment and infrastructure contracts in exchange for a higher
international profile.
10. US Technology Exports
The Associated Press (Tom Raum, "TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS CRITICIZED,"
Washington, 07/10/98) and Reuters ("DEFENSE EXPERTS WARN CONGRESS ON
EXPORT CONTROLS," Washington, 07/10/98) reported that Stephen Bryen,
former director of the Defense Technology Security Administration, said
that the PRC has been able to obtain easily supercomputers and other
sensitive US technology that can help it modernize its military to "shift
the balance of power in the Pacific." Bryen said that the computers
allow the PRC to break military codes of other nations, design small
nuclear weapons for cruise missiles, and develop new weapons systems "as
good as anything anywhere." He added, "This will enhance China's ability
to shift the balance of power in the Pacific." Gary Milhollin, director
of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, urged Congress to
eliminate the Commerce Department's role in strategic export licensing.
He stated, "Commerce has a conflict of interest. Its main mission is to
promote trade."
11. Theater Missile Defense
United Press International (Mike Billington, "LYLES CONFIDENT THAAD WILL
WORK," Washington, 07/09/98) reported that Lieutenant General Lester
Lyles, the head of the US Defense Department's Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization, said Thursday that he is confident the Theater High
Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) will overcome the problems that have
plagued it so far and will be deployed on time. Lyles said that the
launcher, radar, and the command and control systems all meet or exceed
expectations. He added that the five failed missile tests were each due
to a different problem, and that as problems are identified, they have
been fixed.
12. Indian-Pakistan Relations
The Associated Press ("INDIA'S PM SAYS KEEN TO MEET PAKISTANI
COUNTERPART," New Delhi, 07/10/98) reported that Indian Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee said Friday that he looks forward to meeting with
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif later this month to discuss
bilateral issues. Vajpayee and Sharif will meet in the Sri Lankan
capital of Colombo during a regular summit of a seven-nation regional
group. Vajpayee said that India is prepared for bilateral talks with
Pakistan on Kashmir, and repeated his call on Pakistan to sign a no-
first-use nuclear weapons agreement with India. He also said India is
keen to resolve a border dispute with the PRC.
13. Indian Adherence to CTBT
Reuters ("INDIA REJECTS UNCONDITIONAL N-TEST BAN PACT ENTRY," New Delhi,
07/10/98) reported that Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said
on Friday that India would not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT) unconditionally. However, he added that India was prepared to
discuss the CTBT and join negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off
Treaty (FMCT). He stated, "Nobody should think we are weakening. But we
are ready to talk on the CTBT. We are ready to take part in the FMCT.
We have a constructive approach."
14. Australian Ratification of CTBT
The Associated Press ("AUSTRALIA RATIFIES NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY,"
Canberra, 07/10/98) reported that Australian Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer announced that Australia on Friday became the 15th nation to
ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Downer stated, "It
marks a watershed in international efforts to address the global threat
posed by nuclear weapons proliferation and is an indispensable component
of the international nuclear arms control regime." He added, "I call
again on both India and Pakistan to sign and ratify the CTBT without
conditions or further delay." Downer also said that Australia would now
encourage other countries, especially those in the Asia-Pacific region,
to ratify the treaty so that it could come into effect as soon as
possible.
1. DPRK Military Threat
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("ROK NATIONAL SECURITY PLANNING HEAD SAYS THAT DPRK
HAS INCREASED ITS CAPABILITY OF INCURSION," Seoul, 07/10/98) reported
that the ROK National Security Planning Agency's head stated at a
security-related cabinet meeting on July 9 that, in addition to signs
that Kim Jong-il will soon become head of state, the DRPK may be changing
its strategy toward the ROK, in hopes of pushing the ROK into a hard-line
position. The national security planning head also said that the DPRK
sees the ROK's policy of expanding exchanges with the DPRK as a strategy
to make the DPRK collapse, and warned that the DPRK may strengthen its
incursion operations, including terrorism, to disrupt the ROK. The
article saw the statement as a warning that security should be considered
in ROK President Kim Dae-jung's 'sunshine policy' towards the DPRK. The
article added that the head also reported on the DPRK's expansion of a
submarine base and building of eight additional submarines.
2. DPRK Food Crisis
The Nikkei Shimbun ("UN WORLD FOOD PLANNING (WFP) SAYS JULY OR AUGUST
WILL BE MOST DANGEROUS FOR DPRK," Washington, 07/10/98) reported that
Eric Weingartner, World Food Program (WFP) representative in the DPRK,
told reporters in Washington on July 9 that the DPRK's crop from last
autumn has already depleted and that the country's food situation will be
the most difficult in July or August. Weingartner also appealed that,
given the amount of food aid to the DPRK from international institutions
so far this year, which is lower than last year's, there is a need for
urgent food aid to the country.
3. Japanese-Russian Relations
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("FOREIGN MINISTRY STRENGTHENS PERSONNEL FOR RUSSIA,"
07/08/98) reported that, with Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's
official visit to Russia scheduled for October, the Japanese Foreign
Ministry has reshuffled its Russia diplomatic personnel, promoting
Kazuhiko Togo to treaty director. The article pointed out that this
reflects Hashimoto's and Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi's strong
determination for diplomacy with Russia after the coming upper house
election. However, former director Yukio Takeuchi's move to director of
North America and former director of North America Norimoto Takano's move
to head of training shocked not only the Foreign Ministry but the Defense
Agency as well, because they are involved in the matters related with the
New Guidelines for Japan-US Security Cooperation.
The NAPSNet Daily Report aims to serve as a forum for dialogue
and exchange among peace and security specialists.
Conventions for readers and a list of acronyms and
abbreviations are available to all recipients.
For descriptions of the world wide web sites used to gather
information for this report, or for more information on web
sites with related information, see the collection of
other NAPSNet resources.
Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with:
Wade L. Huntley: napsnet@nautilus.org
Timothy L. Savage: napsnet@nautilus.org
Choi Chung-moon: cily@star.elim.co.kr
Hiroyasu Akutsu: akutsu@glocomnet.or.jp
Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Chunsi Wu: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Return to the Top of this Daily Report
[Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Next Item][Contents]
[Prev. Item][Contents][Credits]
We invite you to reply to today's report, and we welcome
commentary or papers for distribution to the network.
The Center for Global Communications, Tokyo, Japan
Center for American Studies,
Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Berkeley, California, United States
Berkeley, California, United States
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Tokyo, Japan
Moscow, Russian Federation
Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Shanghai, People's Republic of China