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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Friday, August 28, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. DPRK Missile Sales
The Associated Press ("N. KOREA'S DEFENSE INDUSTRY SAGGING, S. KOREAN
OFFICIALS SAY," Seoul, 08/28/98) reported that ROK Unification Ministry
officials said Friday that the DPRK's defense industry is sagging,
depriving the country of a vital source of foreign currency. The
officials said that the DPRK is believed to have earned US$2.5 billion by
selling missiles and other weapons mostly to Middle East countries in
1980-89, but only US$300 million between 1990 and 1995. The officials
said that their information was obtained from Germany and other friendly
countries. The officials believe that the DPRK's missile sales to Iran,
Syria, and other Middle East countries have dropped sharply because of
the weapons' low quality and difficulty in transporting them. They added
that while the DPRK has made significant progress in certain areas of
missile development, its program faces "serious technical problems." One
anonymous ministry official stated, "Signs are clear that North Korea's
defense industry is declining." He added, "That is one reason they have
recently proposed to the United States that the DPRK halt missile
development and sales in return for financial compensation."
2. KEDO
US Department of State Deputy Spokesman James B. Foley ("KARTMAN NAMED
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TO KEDO," Washington, USIA Text, 08/28/98) reported
that US Ambassador at-large Charles Kartman has been named as US
Representative to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization
(KEDO) and Chairman of its Executive Board, succeeding Ambassador Paul
Cleveland. Kartman is also the US Special Envoy for the Four-Party Peace
Talks. The statement added, "Under Ambassador Cleveland's leadership,
KEDO's Executive Board concluded an ad referendum burdensharing agreement
last month under which the Republic of Korea pledged 70 percent of the
estimated LWR project cost of $4.6 billion, and Japan pledged the yen-
equivalent of $1 billion. The agreement is scheduled to be formally
signed in Seoul on August 29."
3. DPRK Releases Korean-American
The Associated Press ("PASTOR RELEASED BY NORTH KOREA," Seoul, 08/28/98)
reported that the DPRK's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Lee
Kwang-dok, a Christian minister from Los Angeles, was released Friday at
the request of the US government. KCNA said that Lee was expelled from
the DPRK after he paid an unspecified fine. It added, "He was caught
red-handed while committing such crimes as alluring citizens of the DPRK
into South Korea, spying on the actual conditions of the DPRK and
distributing anti-DPRK propaganda materials." ROK news reports quoted
Lee's family in Los Angeles as saying that the fine was more than
US$100,000. Lee's release reportedly was arranged at the meeting in New
York last week between US and DPRK representatives.
4. Alleged Terrorist Threat in ROK
The Associated Press ("SECURITY STRENGTHENED AT U.S. INSTALLATIONS IN S.
KOREA," Seoul, 08/28/98) reported that security was tightened Friday at
US military installations, businesses, and the US embassy in the ROK
because of an unconfirmed terrorist threat. The heightened security came
after the US Embassy issued an advisory Thursday saying it had received
"unconfirmed information of a possible terrorist action" against US
citizens in the ROK. Embassy spokesman Patrick Linehan declined to
discuss the nature of the threat, but added, "We're obviously taking it
seriously."
5. US Military in ROK
The Associated Press ("RAINS HURT U.S. MILITARY IN KOREA," Seoul,
08/28/98) reported that the US Army Corps of Engineers said Friday that
torrential rains in the ROK caused an estimated US$300 million damage to
U.S. military buildings, equipment and supplies. Three US servicemen
were killed and more than 450 buildings were damaged at three military
bases in and around Seoul.
6. US Military Sales to Taiwan
Reuters (Benjamin Kang Lim, "CHINA DENOUNCES U.S. MISSILE SALE TO
TAIWAN," Beijing, 08/28/98) reported that a PRC foreign ministry
spokesman on Friday denounced US sales of missiles and anti-submarine
torpedoes to Taiwan. He stated, "We demand the U.S. government strictly
abide by the Aug. 17 Sino-U.S. communique through practical action and
stop any moves that violate China's sovereignty and sabotage China's
peaceful reunification." He added, "The U.S. side has ignored the
consistent opposition of the Chinese side and continuously sold advanced
weapons to Taiwan, violating the Aug. 17 communique. The Chinese side
expresses its resolute opposition to this." The 1982 communique calls
for the US to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan in quantity and
quality.
The Associated Press ("TAIWAN SEEKING U.S. MISSILES," Washington,
08/27/98) reported that the US Defense Department said Thursday that the
US planned to sell US$350 million in missiles and anti-submarine
torpedoes to Taiwan. It said the proposed sale of 61 vehicle-mounted
"Stinger" anti-aircraft missile launchers and 728 missiles for US$180
million would be included in the requested package. The package would
also include 131 MK-46 torpedoes and associated equipment made by Hughes
Aircraft Co for US$69 million. The final part of the proposed package
would be 58 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and eight Harpoon training
missiles for US$101 million. The Department said, "The proposed sale of
this military equipment will not affect the basic military balance in the
region."
7. US-Russian Summit
Reuters ("CLINTON COMMITTED TO MAKING RUSSIA TRIP NEXT WEEK," Edgartown,
08/28/98) reported that White House spokesman Barry Toiv said that US
President Bill Clinton held a conference call with senior advisers on
Russia on Friday and reiterated his intention of traveling to Moscow next
week. Toiv denied speculation that Clinton might cancel or postpone the
visit because of the political and economic uncertainty in Russia.
1. Allegations of DPRK Nuclear Plant
The ROK government held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting
Thursday to discuss the possible underground nuclear plant being
constructed at Yongbyon by the DPRK. A spokesman for the ROK Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) said that substantial construction was
underway and the government is closely watching to see if it has anything
to do with nuclear weapons. Information on the facility has been
gathered for some time and the administration, in cooperation with the
US, is trying to find out its purpose, though it cannot confirm that the
construction is for nuclear weapons at this time. If it is confirmed
that the DPRK is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, the government will
use every method possible to prevent it. ROK Presidential spokesman Park
Ji-won said in a regular morning briefing that construction was at a
stage where it was difficult to judge whether or not people should be
concerned. (Chosun Ilbo, "NSC DISCUSSES POSSIBLE NK NUCLEAR PLANT,"
08/28/98)
ROK conservative local dailies are speculating that the DPRK is
constructing an "underground nuclear power plant," but one high-ranking
ROK government official described this as pure fiction. The more
progressive Han-Kyoreh daily reported Wednesday that there is no concrete
evidence that the DPRK has been digging an underground tunnel in order to
construct a nuclear plant. ROK government officials said the report is
"generally true." Although the public is becoming more and more
sensitive to and apprehensive about the conflicting reports, presidential
secretaries are more "relaxed than before." Their sentiments might be an
indication that the government has ample evidence that the Yongbyon
underground work is not related to nuclear facilities. They have said
privately that a few conservative local media are engrossed in a
pointless "witch hunt." No country in the world has an underground
nuclear power plant, they said, except Sweden, which has a subterranean
facility for research purposes. They questioned whether the DPRK has the
technical capability to construct a nuclear plant underground. A
government source said that is absurd to suggest that the DPRK is
building an underground hangar in Yongbyon, and it is equally absurd to
say that the DPRK is building a nuclear plant. He added, however, that
the government will chart a "worst-case scenario," and that observers are
free to speculate. He acknowledged that the DPRK has built ventilation
and irrigation channels underground, but added that this does not mean
that a nuclear facility is being built. In any underground tunnel, there
always have to be ventilation and irrigation channels to support human
activity, he said. He surmised that the underground tunnel might be part
of the DPRK's decades-old effort to fortify the country, moving all
facilities underground to prepare for an attack from the ROK. ROK
government officials said that even if the underground area is intended
to support nuclear facilities, it would probably take as long as six
years for the DPRK to install the needed equipment. The Kim Dae-jung
administration is worried that groundless speculation by "conservative"
domestic media might harm its "sunshine policy" toward the DPRK. It is
speculated that by taking its present course, the DPRK is "demonstrating"
against the US for its reluctance to ease its economic sanctions and its
delay in constructing two light water nuclear plants and delivering the
heavy oil it has promised to provide. (Korea Times, "SPECULATION MOUNTS
OVER NK UNDERGROUND FACILITY IN YONGBYON," 08/28/98)
1. Japan-US Defense Relations
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("TMD JOINT RESEARCH TO BE FINANCED IN THIS YEAR,"
Washington, 08/28/98) reported that the Japanese and US governments held
an official foreign ministerial-defense authority meeting at the Pentagon
on August 27. During the meeting, Japan announced its decision to
finance the proposed joint research on the theater missile defense (TMD)
initiative this year outside the framework of the budget for fiscal year
1999. Japan also told the US side regarding the Diet's examination of
the bills related to the New Guidelines for Japan-US Defense Cooperation,
"We are hoping that the bills will be passed as soon as possible." As
for the 2-Plus-2 Japan-US Security Consultation Committee, both sides
agreed to meet in late September. Regarding US bases in Okinawa, they
reaffirmed that the final report by the Special Action Committee on
Okinawa should be fully implemented.
2. Japan's Defense Policy
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("DEFENSE AGENCY TO INCREASE INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS,"
08/24/98) reported that Defense Agency decided to increase South Asian
experts in its information center by approximately one hundred and to
spend approximately 10 billion yen in the fiscal year of 1999. The
reasons for this include the diversification of the activities of the
Self-Defense Forces (including rescue of Japanese civilians overseas and
US Peace-Keeping Operations), the Japanese government's inability to
predict the resignation of President Suharto of Indonesia in May, and the
increasing uncertainties in Southeast Asian security due to the recent
nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. The report also pointed out that,
although the agency has already been increasing its ability to gather and
analyze information concerning the PRC, Russia, the DPRK, and the post-
Cold War-driven political turmoil in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the
Middle East motivated the agency to make this decision. The report cited
a Defense-Agency high-ranking official as saying, "We have not
accumulated enough information on these areas, and we have not been ready
to analyze a huge amount of first-hand information, either."
3. Japanese Communist Party
The Nikkei Shimbun ("COMMUNIST PARTY MAY ACCEPT JAPAN-US SECURITY
TREATY," 08/25/98) reported that Tetsuzo Fuwa, head of Japan's Communist
Party, announced in the party's newspaper "Akahata (Red Flag)" on August
25 that, if the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) cannot gain the majority
in the next lower house election, the Communist Party may join a
coalition administration by temporarily freezing its opposition to the
Japan-US Security Treaty. According to the report, the 1961 Communist
Party statement insisted on discarding the Japan-US Security Treaty as "a
US-dependent alliance." However, Fuwa revealed that the party is ready
to deal with the treaty as it is, will not revise the treaty to adjust to
the present situation, and will not aim to terminate it.
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