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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Monday, July 27, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. US Ship Deployment near Korean Peninsula
Reuters ("NKOREA WARNS U.S. AGAINST WARSHIP DEPLOYMENT," Seoul, 07/27/98)
and the Associated Press ("NKOREA CRITICIZES US SHIP MOVEMENT," Seoul,
07/25/98) reported that the DPRK's Korean Central News Agency on Monday
denounced US plans to deploy warships closer to the Korean peninsula to
counter DPRK spy infiltrations. The agency said, "Such dangerous
military moves, which can be seen only on the eve of war, are an
undisguised military provocation against the DPRK. They are tantamount
to a declaration of war. If the United States threatens us, its dialogue
partner, with reckless military moves, we will be left with no other
choice but to take powerful self-defensive steps unhesitatingly. If so,
the United States will have much more to lose than to win." The news
agency said that the US was sending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Carl Vinson and "some 20 nuclear-powered attack submarines, various types
of warplanes and troops" near to the peninsula. US officials have
declined to say which types of navy ships are being deployed.
2. DPRK Elections
The Associated Press (Kyong-hwa Seok, "NORTH KOREANS ELECT NEW
PARLIAMENT," Seoul, 07/26/98) and United Press International ("N KOREANS
ELECT KIM JONG-IL TO ASSEMBLY," Seoul, 07/27/98) reported that the DPRK's
official Korean Central News Agency announced Sunday that Kim Jong-il was
elected to the Supreme People's Assembly. The Agency said that all
officers and men in constituency No. 666 voted for Kim. The DPRK
reported a nearly 100 percent voter turnout, with only registered voters
abroad or at sea not voting. Other details of the assembly elections,
including the exact number of deputies elected, were not announced. In
the last elections in 1990, 678 legislators were chosen for five-year
terms. ROK officials said that only one candidate is allowed in each
constituency and voters are told to mark "X" on their ballot sheets only
when they oppose their candidates. Kim Kwang-in, an analyst at the ROK's
government-owned Naewoe Press, stated, "Kim [Jong-il] had, has and will
continue to have absolute power in North Korea. [His ascension to the
presidency] would not much affect North Korean policies."
3. Land Mines on Korean Peninsula
Reuters ("CANADIAN MINISTER VISITS KOREAN LANDMINE FIELD," Seoul,
07/25/98) reported that Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy on
Saturday visited the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean Peninsula to push
for a global ban on landmines. Axworthy said that, while he understood
the special military considerations on the Korean peninsula,
"Alternatives have to be found to replace the existing landmines." He
added that Canada has set aside US$100 million for research and
development "on alternative systems that don't have a horrific and random
effect on people." Axworthy discussed the landmines issue in meetings on
Friday with ROK President Kim Dae-jung and Foreign Affairs and Trade
Minister Park Chung-soo. Axworthy said that 127 countries have signed
the Ottawa Convention to ban landmines and 30 have ratified it so far.
4. ROK-Russian Spy Row
The Associated Press ("RUSSIA, S. KOREA REMAIN IN STANDOFF," Seoul,
07/26/98) and Agence France Presse ("SOUTH KOREA AND RUSSIA FAIL TO SOLVE
DISPUTE OVER EXPULSIONS," Seoul, 07/26/98) reported that ROK Foreign
Ministry officials said that Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov
and ROK Foreign Minister Park Chung-soo met for 75 minutes in Manila on
Sunday but failed to resolve a diplomatic row on spy charges. Russia
reportedly asked the ROK to retract its earlier decision to expel a
Russian diplomat in Seoul. An anonymous ROK Foreign Ministry official
stated, "Both sides spent most of the time exchanging views on the issue.
There was no time to discuss other issues, including a proposed summit
between the two countries."
5. US-Russian Naval Exercises
Reuters ("COMMUNISTS VOW TO BLOCK US-RUSSIA NAVAL MOVES," Vladivostok,
07/27/98) reported that the Vladivostok branch of the Communist-led
National Patriotic Forces Union (NPSR) vowed Monday to block joint
Russian naval exercises with the US planned for next week. As a part of
joint maneuvers held every two years since 1994, US Marines were
scheduled to land in Ussury Bay on the fringes of Vladivostok on August
6. The NPSR said that the plans were humiliating to national pride and
threatened the country's security. NPSR spokesman Alexander Reznichenko
stated, "The NPSR believes reactionary circles in the United States and
NATO are working out plans to establish military control over Russia and
its people." Reznichenko said that protesters would picket the US
consulate and the headquarters of the Pacific Fleet in Vladivostok on
Wednesday and Thursday calling for the exercises to be scrapped. He
added, "If this does not work about 500 supporters of the NPSR will form
a human chain on August 6 between Ketovaya and Desantnaya Bays to prevent
the Americans from landing." He also said that small boats were expected
to float in the bays to block US ships from nearing the coast. A
spokesman for the Pacific Fleet said the command was aware of the planned
protest but that the maneuvers would go ahead as planned.
6. PRC-US Detargeting Agreement
Reuters (Carol Giacomo, "CHINA'S TANG REASSURES U.S. ON WEAPONS," Manila,
07/27/98) and the Associated Press (Tom Raum, "CHINA PROMISES TO DETARGET
MISSILES," Manila, 07/27/98) reported that the PRC Foreign Minister Tang
Jiaxuan, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
on Monday, promised that the PRC will follow through on its pledge to
detarget the 13 nuclear missiles it has aimed at US cities. Tang stated,
"This has already been decided upon by the two presidents. According to
the ancient Chinese philosophy, the Chinese people are a people who
always honor our promises with real actions." An anonymous senior US
official said that the US did not know yet whether the PRC had followed
through on the promise, but added, "We expect it will be done."
7. PRC-Taiwan Relations
The Associated Press (Charles Hutzler, "CHINA THREATENS TAIWAN AGAIN,"
Beijing, 07/27/98) and Reuters (Scott Hillis, "CHINA REPORT MAINTAINS
TOUGH TAIWAN POLICY," Beijing, 07/27/98) reported that a defense policy
report issued by the PRC State Council on Monday reiterated the PRC's
right to use military force against Taiwan. The Xinhua news agency
quoted the report as saying that the PRC "seeks to achieve the
reunification of the country by peaceful means, but will not commit
itself not to resort to force." It added that the PRC opposed arms sales
to Taiwan, claiming such sales threatened the PRC's security as well as
regional peace. The report also said, "Directly or indirectly
incorporating the Taiwan Straits into the security and cooperation sphere
of any country or any military alliance is an infringement upon and
interference in China's sovereignty." It stated, "China does not seek
hegemonism, nor does it seek military blocs or military expansion." The
report said that nearly 36 percent of PRC military spending went to
personnel expenses last year, almost 33 percent to activities, and some
31 percent to equipment purchases. The PRC's military spending is
budgeted to grow to US$10.9 billion this year compared with US$9.79
billion last year.
8. ASEAN Regional Forum
Dow Jones Newswires (Cris Larano, "ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM OPENS TO DISCUSS
REGIONAL SECURITY," Manila, 07/26/98) and Reuters ("NUCLEAR ARMS, JAPAN'S
WOES DOMINATE MANILA MEETING," Manila, 07/26/98) reported that the Fifth
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF)
opened Monday to discuss a number of political and security issues in the
region. Foreign ministers from 21 countries will review developments in
the region since last year's ARF in Kuala Lumpur in the one-day meeting.
According to Philippine Foreign Assistant Secretary Ernesto Llamas, the
delegates will approve some recommendations on disaster relief and
confidence-building measures and discuss nuclear non-proliferation,
peacekeeping, maritime security, preventive diplomacy, and the security
implications of Asia's financial crisis.
9. South Asian Nuclear Tests
The Associated Press (Laurinda Keys, "END TO INDIA, PAKISTAN NUKES
SOUGHT," Manila, 07/27/98) reported that delegates to the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum (ARF) on Monday urged India and
Pakistan to halt their nuclear weapons programs. Ministers from 19
countries plus the European Union said in a statement that they "strongly
deplored" the recent nuclear tests, although they did not specifically
name India and Pakistan.
Dow Jones Newswires ("JAPAN'S OBUCHI OFFERS TO MEDIATE INDIA-PAKISTAN
TALKS-KYODO," Tokyo, 07/27/98) reported that Kyodo News said that
Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi expressed willingness Monday to
mediate talks between India and Pakistan. Obuchi stated, "The Pakistani
foreign minister (Gohar Ayub Khan) has said he does not mind coming to
Japan. If an Indian (minister) will also come to Japan, India and
Pakistan could discuss the nuclear issue through Japan's mediation."
Meanwhile, Vice Foreign Minister Shunji Yanai told a news conference that
Japan is considering urging India to hold talks with Japan at the vice
foreign ministerial level on security issues, possibly in Tokyo within
this year.
10. Indian Nuclear Deployment
The Associated Press ("INDIAN STRATEGISTS URGE GOVT NOT TO DEPLOY NUCLEAR
WEAPONS," New Delhi, 07/27/98) reported that K. Subrahmanyam, a
syndicated writer on defense affairs, argued Monday against India
deploying nuclear weapons on the battlefield, in order to avoid the
potential for accidents. Subrahmanyam stated, "The Cuban missile crisis
will not happen here." Jasjit Singh, director of the government-funded
Institute for Defense Studies and Analysis, said that the emerging Indian
strategy invokes a doctrine of "recessed deterrent," by which India stays
one step short of assembling nuclear weapons.
11. President Clinton's South Asian Trip
Reuters ("CLINTON'S INDIA, PAKISTAN TRIP STILL UNDER REVIEW," Aspen,
07/26/98) reported that White House spokesman Barry Toiv said Sunday that
President Bill Clinton's planned visits to India and Pakistan later this
year were still under review. Toiv stated, "There is no decision and the
president is not suggesting in any way that a decision had been made."
US President Bill Clinton ("CLINTON COMMENTS ON INDIA, PAKISTAN JULY 26,"
USIA Excerpts, Aspen, 07/27/98) said that he had planned to take a trip
to South Asia in the fall, but did not elaborate on the status of those
plans. Clinton stated, "One big problem is India steadfastly resists
having any third party ... try to mediate on Kashmir." He added, "What I
think we have to do is to go back to find a series of confidence-building
measures which will enable these two nations to work together and trust
each other more and to move back from the brink of military confrontation
and from nuclear confrontation. And we have to find a way to involve the
Russians and the Chinese because the Indians always say they're building
nuclear power because of China being a nuclear power and the border
disputes they've had with China." Clinton said that it would be "a
terrible tragedy if Hindu nationalism led to both estrangement with the
Muslim countries on the border and the minorities -- Muslim and otherwise
-- within the borders of India." Regarding Pakistan, Clinton stated, "If
they could somehow ease their concerns which are leading to such enormous
military expenditures and put it into people expenditures, we could build
a different future there."
1. ROK-Russian Spy Row
Russia wanted to put pressure on the ROK to make concessions when it
recently ousted an ROK diplomat on spy charges, an intelligence officer
said Sunday. "Moscow understands the ROK is desperately seeking to
collect information on the DPRK in Russia," he said, adding that Russia
was taking advantage of this need when it expelled an ROK diplomat
earlier this month. He said that Russia might demand that the ROK
purchase weaponry from Russia in return for permission to bring its
intelligence activities in Russia back to the previous level. In the
wake of the spy dispute, he said, the number of ROK intelligence officers
given diplomatic status in Russia has been reduced from eight to two.
(Korea Herald, "RUSSIA'S SPY CHARGES ALLEGEDLY CALCULATED," 07/27/98)
2. Allegations on DPRK Tunnels
The ROK Defense Ministry Sunday denied a Yonhap New Agency report on
Saturday that said the ROK Army will be able to locate and confirm within
the year two suspected tunnels which were dug by the DPRK in the
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). "It is not true that we have concluded that
the Communist North is digging 21 tunnels, or that we might have found
the general location of seven of them and will be able to locate two of
the seven within the year," an ROK ministry spokesman said. ROK Army
sources, however, admitted that efforts to detect suspected DPRK tunnels
continue, with engineers conducting drill tests in the DMZ. However, the
sources refused to confirm whether any signs of a new DPRK tunnel have
been detected recently. (Korea Herald, "DEFENSE MINISTRY DENIES REPORT
ON NORTH KOREA TUNNELS," 07/27/98)
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