|
Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Friday, November 6, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. Remains of US Soldiers from Korean War
Reuters ("N. KOREA HANDS OVER REMAINS OF NINE U.S. SOLDIERS," Panmunjom,
11/06/98) and the Associated Press (Y.J. Ahn, "N. KOREA RETURNS
AMERICAN'S REMAINS," Panmunjom, 11/06/98) reported that the DPRK on
Friday repatriated the remains of what were believed to be nine US
soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War. US Deputy Assistant
Defense Secretary Robert Jones said that several sets of the remains were
believed to have been members of the all African-American 25th regiment
of the 24th infantry division. He added that a total of about 22 sets of
remains have been recovered from the DPRK so far this year. Jones said
that the US hopes to hasten the search next year but the 1999 search
schedule has not been fixed, adding that talks on next year's search
would begin with the DPRK in December.
2. Pro-DPRK Web Pages
The Associated Press ("TEEN BUSTED FOR COMMUNIST WEB SITE," Seoul,
11/05/98) reported that ROK police on Wednesday arrested 19 year-old Kim
Seok-joon on charges of violating the National Security Law by creating a
pro-DPRK web site. Kim's home page, titled the "Forum for People Who
Love North Korea," featured a large DPRK flag, along with an ROK flag
burning. Kim's Web site also contained the DPRK constitution and news
reports and a profile of leader Kim Jong-il.
3. Japanese Satellite Development
The Associated Press ("JAPAN PLANS TO LAUNCH SPY SATELLITES BY 2002,"
Tokyo, 11/06/98) reported that Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu
Nonaka said that the Cabinet on Friday approved a plan to put four spy
satellites into orbit by 2002. Nonaka said that the multipurpose
satellites would be used to gather information "needed for crisis
management." He added that the project will adhere to a 1969
parliamentary resolution that limits satellites to nonmilitary purposes.
An anonymous official of the Prime Minister's Office said that Japan will
launch the satellites on its own over the next few years, but that it had
not been decided whether the satellites will be manufactured entirely
domestically. The project reportedly will cost US$1.69 billion.
Fukushiro Nukaga, director-general of the Defense Agency, called the
project's approval "significant" for national defense.
4. US Energy Secretary's Taiwan Visit
White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart ("WHITE HOUSE DAILY BRIEFING,
NOVEMBER 5, 1998," USIA Transcript, 11/05/98) said that US Energy
Secretary Bill Richardson will visit Taiwan from November 9th to 11th to
attend the joint annual conference of the Washington based US-ROC
(Republic of China) Business Council and its Taiwan counterpart.
Lockhart stated, "our policy to Taiwan, the People's Republic of China,
continues to be governed by the Taiwan Relations Act and by our three
joint communiques with the PRC.... Secretary Richardson's trip is
consistent with this framework."
US State Department Spokesman James Rubin ("STATE DEPT. NOON BRIEFING,
NOVEMBER 5," USIA Transcript, 11/05/98) said that the trip to Taiwan by
US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson does not reflect a change in US
policy. Rubin stated, "In 1994, as part of our policy review, we
endorsed periodic visits to Taiwan by Cabinet-level officials from
economic and technical agencies, which is precisely what Secretary
Richardson is.... US Cabinet officials have attended past sessions of
this event that highlight our strong economic ties with the people on
Taiwan." Rubin added, "We expect that Secretary Richardson will meet
with President Lee Teng-hui during his visit."
Reuters (Christiaan Virant, "CHINA WARNS U.S. ON OFFICIAL TAIWAN
CONTACT," Beijing, 11/06/98) and the Associated Press (H. Josef Hebert,
"CHINA OPPOSES RICHARDSON'S TRIP," Washington, 11/05/98) reported that
the PRC Foreign Ministry on Friday issued a statement denouncing a
scheduled visit by US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to Taiwan next
week. The statement said, "We urge the American side to strictly adhere
to its solemn promises on the Taiwan issue and restrict U.S.-Taiwan
relations to a non-official scope." It added, "China opposes any
official contact between Taiwan and the United States and is against U.S.
Cabinet officials visiting Taipei, including the energy secretary." It
said that the US "should not engage in any official contact with Taiwan
to avoid bringing harm to developing Sino-U.S. ties."
5. Spratly Islands Dispute
The Associated Press ("CHINA REFUTES PHILIPPINE CLAIMS," Beijing,
11/06/98) reported that the PRC on Friday dismissed complaints by the
Philippines that Chinese ships visited Mischief Reef in the South China
Sea and repaired structures for possible military use. PRC Foreign
Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said the repairs did not violate an
agreement between the two countries to refrain from hostile acts over the
Spratly islands. Zhu described the structures on the reef as fishing
shelters that were damaged by natural causes, and said authorities began
repairs recently for the safety of fishermen.
The Associated Press ("PHILIPPINE DEFENSE CHIEF WARNS AGAINST CHINESE
ENCROACHMENTS ON REEF," Manila, 11/05/98) reported that Philippines
Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said Friday that the PRC's recent
actions off Mischief Reef could lead to further PRC encroachments on
Philippine territory. Mercado stated, "What we see as the emerging
strategy of China is 'talk and take.' There is a code of conduct, the
Chinese president even came here ... but they are doing something else.
That is what is worrisome." He added, "If they are allowed to stay
there, what will follow next? If we measure the 200-mile exclusive
economic zone (EEZ) from Mischief Reef, even Metro Manila would be
included in the EEZ of China." The PRC Embassy said in a statement that
it is the PRC's sovereign right to reinforce the structures because they
had been damaged by natural forces and were endangering the lives of
Chinese staff based on the reef.
6. Nuclear Proliferation
The Washington Post carried an opinion article (K. Subrahmanyan,
"AMERICA? A NONPROLIFERATOR?" 11/06/98, A21) which said that the US has
demonstrated a consistent pattern of being unable and unwilling to deal
with PRC-Pakistan nuclear proliferation. The author attributed this
failure to "fear of jeopardizing U.S.-China trade ties through mandatory
invocation of sanctions." He pointed out that Israel, India, and
Pakistan had nuclear capabilities for a longer time than did the PRC and
France when they were declared nuclear weapons powers under the Non-
Proliferation Treaty in 1968. The author argued, "While the United
States has been very flexible in its approach to proliferation issues as
seen by its reactions to Israel, Pakistan and China, it has painted
itself into a corner by extending the NPT indefinitely and
unconditionally. Now a new global nuclear approach is needed, which will
take into account the existent realities." He concluded, "The
international Pugwash Council last month suggested a non-discriminatory
set of measures for all eight states that have nuclear weapons. They
include signing the test ban treaty, participation in the forthcoming
fissile materials cutoff treaty, enforcement of Article I of the NPT (not
to proliferate), compliance with Article III (2) (on safeguards) and
dedication to negotiating nuclear disarmament. In addition, they have
advocated nuclear risk reduction measures in regard to weapons and moves
toward an international treaty on no-first-use on the model of the Geneva
Protocol of 1925 for chemical weapons. This would be an effective
nonproliferation program."
1. DPRK Purge
Chosun Ilbo ("DPRK PURGES HIGH OFFICIALS," Seoul, 11/06/98) reported that
the DPRK carried out a massive purge of high-ranking officials from its
intelligence agency, including Kim Young-ryong, and its bureau that deals
with economic ties with the ROK. According to a report delivered to the
parliamentary audit and inspection by Lee Jong-chan, head of the National
Security Planning Agency (NSPA), Kim Young-ryong had said earlier this
year that the DPRK should open more to the outside world, and was alleged
to have taken bribes from foreign trading companies. This was reported
to Kim Jong-il, who reportedly dismissed him. Rumors abound that
following this he committed suicide. Kwon Hee-kyong, who was head of
research at the overseas intelligence agency, has also been removed, on
charges of embezzlement when he was ambassador to Russia. As has already
been reported, Kim Jong-woo, in charge of overseas economic cooperation,
was purged earlier in the year and since March he has not been seen.
Additionally, successive chairmen of the International Trade Promotion
Committee, Lee Song-rok and Kim Moon-song, have apparently disappeared.
The NSPA also noted that Kim Yong-soon, recently appointed as chairman of
the Fatherland Peaceful Unification Committee, and Kang Joo-il, the
overseas communications chief of the Workers' Party, were investigated
for corruption in October last year. Chang Sung-taek, Kim Jong-il's
brother-in-law and deputy chief of administration of the party, is also
being investigated on the same charge.
2. Alleged DPRK Counterfeiting
Chosun Ilbo ("DPRK DOLLAR STRONG AS EVER," Seoul, 11/06/98) reported that
DPRK agents using counterfeit dollars have been caught 13 times since
1994, using the equivalent of a total of US$4.6 million in fake dollar
bills. According to documents submitted during proceedings of the
National Assembly Intelligence Committee, the assistant director of the
DPRK Worker's Party was caught trying to purchase Russian currency with
US$30,000 in fakes last March. In December of 1996, the trade consul of
the DPRK embassy in Romania was caught trying to use fake dollars valued
at US$50,000, and a DPRK employee of a Mongolian joint venture company
was caught trying to use US$117,300 worth of high quality counterfeits.
The documents submitted by the NSPA to the Intelligence Committee also
outline the NSPA's knowledge of DPRK drug smuggling activities.
3. US-ROK Summit
JoongAng Ilbo ("US-ROK SUMMIT CONFIRMED NOVEMBER 20," Seoul, 11/06/98)
reported that US President Bill Clinton will visit the ROK on November
20. The last summit meeting between Clinton and ROK President Kim Dae-
jung was held only five months ago. According to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), the US initiated this visit. Furthermore,
this visit is aimed at emphasizing the importance of "an engagement
policy towards the DPRK" to the US Congress. The US Congress has
maintained a hard-line policy towards the DPRK due to the DPRK's missile
launching and alleged underground nuclear facility. In this situation,
Clinton wants to personally deliver his message to the US Congress by
visiting the ROK directly. Both presidents will stress that this
engagement policy is based on the strong alliance between the ROK and the
US. That is why Clinton will visit a unit of the US Forces in the ROK as
his last stop on his visit. President Kim's stance will emphasize the
importance of the continued support by the US to overcome the current
economic crisis. The ROK plans to urge the US to expand investment in
the ROK.
4. DPRK Oil Fields
JoongAng Ilbo ("DPRK'S FIVE OIL FIELDS ARE UNTAPPED," Seoul, 11/06/98)
reported that the DPRK has five oil fields--three inland sites and two
that lie under the sea. Among these oil fields, the two that lie off the
east and west coast have had geological surveys and preliminary
exploration but are basically untapped. The DPRK authorities are now
trying to attract foreign investment so can they start production. The
three inland oil fields are in the Anju-Sookchon area, which naturally
spouts 70 barrels a day, and two in the Myongchon-Kilju area where oil
deposits have been found. Full-scale production would still require a
great deal of money for facilities and further drilling. According to a
"Map of the DPRK Oil Fields" which the Agency for National Security
Planning displayed on November 6, the west coast oil field is composed of
three mining areas (A,B,C). Among these areas, the C area was explored
by Taurus Company from Sweden. There are two sites that are now
producing oil in C area, and 10 further areas are scheduled to be
drilled. Oil deposits were discovered off of the DPRK's east coast in
August 1990. The Australian Beach Company signed a contract to explore
this area in 1994 and the exploration work has almost been finished.
5. DPRK Tourism Project
Korea Times ("HYUNDAI UNDER FIRE FOR GENEROSITY TO DPRK, POOR SAFETY
STEPS FOR TOUR," Seoul, 11/06/98) reported that opposition party
lawmakers assailed Hyundai executives and government officials for having
offered an excessive amount of rewards in return for the implementation
of the Mt. Kumgang tourism and development project, while neglecting to
set up measures to ensure tourist safety. In a parliamentary inspection
of the Unification Ministry, lawmakers, including Representative Park
Kwan-yong of the opposition Grand National Party, denounced Hyundai's
projects, noting that ROK and DPRK authorities should establish measures
to guarantee ROK tourists' safety. Representative Lee Sei-kee pointed
out that if Hyundai offers over US$900 million to the DPRK as a reward
for permission for the Mt. Kumgang project, the DPRK regime might use the
money to modernize its missile system in preparation for an attack on the
ROK. Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung's son, Mong-hun, who was
present at the parliamentary session as a witness, said that Hyundai's
first pleasure boat will set sail on November 18 as planned and the
tourism project will continue throughout the winter. Meanwhile, Chung
revealed that when he and his father met DPRK leader Kim Jong-il last
month, they gave Kim a golden crane worth five million won as gift. The
Chung family also presented Kim Yong-sun, chairman of the Asia-Pacific
Peace Committee, which is Hyundai's project counterpart, with a golden
key worth two million won. Apart from the two gifts, Hyundai offered the
DPRK 1001 head of cattle, 50,000 tons of corn and 20 Hyundai sedans,
whose total value amounts to 11 billion won, Chung said.
6. Remains of US Soldiers from Korean War
Korea Herald ("REMAINS OF 9 U.S. SOLDIERS RETURN FROM DPRK," Seoul,
11/06/98) reported that nine sets of remains believed to be those of US
servicemen killed during the Korean War were sent back from the DPRK on
Friday. The transfer, which took place in a ceremony at the truce
village of Panmunjom, represented the largest number of remains to be
recovered from any single search operation, the UN Command said. The
remains were recovered by a joint US-DPRK team operating about 150 km
north of Pyongyang during the past three weeks. The effort is part of an
attempt to discover the fate of some 8,100 US servicemen still missing
from the Korean War. Joint operations by US and DPRK officials, which
started in 1996, have led to the recovery of what are believed to be the
remains of 27 US soldiers.
1. Pro-DPRK Web Page
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR STARTING DPRK HOMEPAGE,"
Seoul, 11/06/98) reported that a 19-year old ROK man living in
Chungchongnamdo was arrested by the ROK National Security Agency late
last month for starting an Internet homepage in favor of the DPRK.
According to the report, although Internet homepages related to the DPRK
are strictly forbidden in the ROK, the boy started a homepage carrying a
statement "Secretary Kim Jong-il, please become my father" in order to
attract attention. The homepage was titled "a gathering of North lovers"
and also carried the photographs and activity diaries of Kim Jong-il and
a picture of a burning ROK national flag, but the homepage was closed
down in the evening of November 4. The boy said to the authority, "I am
not necessarily interested in the North, but I did this because Internet
fans are interested in such sensitive things as this. I never thought
this would cause such a fuss."
2. Japanese Satellite Development
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("NAKAYAMA SAYS, "WE SHOULD GIVE PRIORITY TO US-MADE
INFORMATION SATELLITE," 11/06/98) reported that Taro Nakayama, former
Foreign Minister and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) project
team on information satellites, said on November 5 that Japan should
purchase satellites from the US. Nakayama stated, "It is optimal for
Japan to develop its own information satellite, but because there is not
much time, it is appropriate to purchase an information satellite from
the US and to give priority to technological cooperation (with the US)."
Nakayama also stated, "Given that the Japanese government will officially
decide to possess its own satellite, I will discuss in the US (with my US
counterpart Kurt Campbell and relevant authorities) what will be needed."
3. Japanese-PRC Relations
The Asahi Shimbun ("PRC FOREIGN MINISTRY ANNOUNCES JIANG ZEMIN'S VISIT TO
JAPAN," 11/06/98) reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu
Bangzhao, at a regular press conference on November 5, announced PRC
President Jiang Zemin's official visit to Japan slated for November 25-
30. Regarding the Taiwan issue, Zhu stated, "It would be advantageous
for the development of PRC-Japanese relations if Japan would take a more
progressive stance." Zhu also said, "There is a clear statement (about
this issue) in the PRC-Japan Communique and the PRC-Japan Peace and Amity
Treaty that is a basis of PRC-Japanese relations.... Japan should
observe this principle." However, according to the report, Zhu did not
ask for Japan's announcement supporting the so-called three noes, which
US President Bill Clinton had previously agreed to. Although Zhu
acknowledged that issues of Taiwan and recognition of history are the
obstacles to the planned joint statement, Zhu did not specifically
mention these issues. The report added that Jiang will meet with the
Emperor and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and visit Sendai and
Sapporo during his trip to Japan.
4. Japanese-Russian Relations
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Kenichi Ogata, "SAKHALIN STATE ASSEMBLY OBJECTS TO
DESIGNATION OF NORTHERN TERRITORIES AS SPECIAL AREAS," Moscow, 11/05/98)
reported that, according to the Russian Interfax News Agency, the
Sakhalin State Assembly adopted a statement on November 5 opposing
designation of the Northern Territories as special economic areas and
sent the decision to Russian President Boris Yeltsin. The statement
says, "(We) object to separation of the Northern Territories from the
State of Sakhalin, designation of these territories as special economic
areas, and giving Japan the freedom to exploit these territories.... The
Russian government should not use these islands as cheap bargaining chips
to gain short-term profits from Japanese-Russian relations."
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
Lee Dong-young: leedy112@unitel.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][Contents][Credits]
We invite you to reply to today's report, and we welcome
commentary or papers for distribution to the network.
International Policy Studies Institute
Seoul, Republic of Korea
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