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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Friday, November 13, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. US DPRK Policy Coordinator
US State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin ("STATE DEPT. 11/12 ON NEW
NORTH KOREA POLICY COORDINATOR," Washington, USIA Text, 11/12/98)
announced Thursday that US President Bill Clinton has named former
Secretary of Defense William Perry to be the administration's DPRK Policy
Coordinator. Rubin said in a press release, "Dr. Perry will take up his
duties immediately pursuant to section 582 (e) of the Omnibus
Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Act. As North Korea Policy
Coordinator, Dr. Perry will participate in a full and complete
interagency review of U.S. policy and objectives toward North Korea. He
will be joined in this review by the Counselor of the Department of
State, Ambassador Wendy Sherman. Officials of other U.S. agencies will
also contribute to the review. As Dr. Perry undertakes his role, he will
consult with U.S. allies, notably the Republic of Korea and Japan and
with other interested governments such as the People's Republic of China.
U.S. Special Envoy for the Korean Peace Talks Charles Kartman will
continue to represent the United States in nuclear talks with the DPRK,
as well as in the Four Party process."
2. ROK-PRC Summit
The Associated Press ("S. KOREAN PRES: CHINA PLEDGES ASSISTANCE ON KOREAN
PENINSULA," Beijing, 11/13/98) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung
said Friday that the PRC has pledged to help rivals the DPRK and ROK
resolve their differences. Kim said he and PRC President Jiang Zemin
held broad-ranging talks on the DPRK, adding that the chief
accomplishment of his trip was a pledge by Jiang that "China will further
play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the Korean
Peninsula." Kim also said that the PRC would not support any armed
provocations or conflicts on the peninsula and backed the ROK's
insistence that disputes be resolved in direct talks between the ROK and
the DPRK. Asked his assessment of the DPRK, Kim said that the country
appeared to be making tentative steps to opening up its economy and noted
recent deals with the ROK's Hyundai conglomerate. He stated, "While
North and South Korean relations have these kinds of good signs, there
are also some things we do not want to see," such as recent submarine
incursions rocket launches. He added, "These kinds of incitements
produce an extremely bad effect in our country." Kim said that PRC
President Jiang Zemin also agreed that a Northeast Asia-wide security
forum between their two governments, the DPRK, Russia, Japan and the US
was worth looking into, although Kim added that such talks would not
happen soon. Kim also said that the ROK and the PRC agreed to step up
military-to-military consultations. Kim was scheduled to meet PRC
Premier Zhu Rongji and three other senior Communist Party members Friday
before touring Shanghai. A joint statement released Friday committed
both sides to working together to fight terrorism and drugs, halt
environmental degradation, remove impediments to business, and resolve
their trade imbalance. The statement also noted the PRC's wish for a
peaceful reunification of Korea and both sides' support for continuing
the four-party peace talks. The two sides also promised to enhance
cooperation in industry, science and technology, information and
telecommunications, environment, energy, natural resources, agriculture,
forestry, nuclear energy, infrastructure and railways. They also signed
a fisheries agreement and a railway cooperation pact.
3. DPRK Famine
The Associated Press ("UN SAYS N. KOREA MUST IMPORT FOOD," Rome,
11/13/98) reported that Saeed Malik, a senior World Food Program (WFP)
official, said Friday that DPRK citizens risk malnourishment unless the
government imports at least 1 million tons of food. Malik stated,
"Despite favorable weather this year, food production has not recovered
sufficiently enough to avert serious food shortages. The food crisis has
been compounded by a complete run-down of the country's economy." A
report issued by the WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization
estimated that the DPRK needs 1.35 million tons of extra food to meet the
population's "minimal nutritional requirements." The report recommended
allotting about half the food to children, hospital patients, and
pregnant women. It added that the DPRK's agricultural production was
further hampered by a major shortage of fertilizer.
Reuters ("U.S. CONGRESSMAN SAYS NORTH KOREANS EATING TWIGS AND LEAVES,"
Seoul, 11/12/98) reported that US Representative Tony Hall, D-Ohio, said
on Friday after visiting the DPRK that people there are eating leaves and
twigs. Hall stated, "North Korean people were relying more and more on
substitute food." He added, "They grind them into powder and make
noodles out of it." Hall said that many patients in hospitals were
walking around holding their stomachs because their digestive tracts
could not handle the alternative foods. He added that 30 percent of DPRK
children between one and two years of age were acutely malnourished and
65 to 67 percent of children surveyed were stunted. Hall stated, "Our
food is getting through and it's keeping a number of people alive. But
when you scratch the surface, the country is in a very, very critical
situation." He warned, "The hospitals don't have medicine, clean water
or heat. Disease control is non-existent." He added, "There is no power
in the country, no heat in buildings and hospitals, but you can see a lot
of graves."
4. Alleged PRC Missile Technology Transfers
The Washington Post (Michael Laris, "U.S. TEAM IN CHINA SAID TO RAISE
ISSUE OF MISSILE TRADING," Beijing, 12/13/98, A36) reported that US
officials said that a US delegation headed by Acting Undersecretary of
State John Holum raised concerns Friday with PRC arms control and
military officials that the PRC is continuing to transfer missile
technology. An unnamed US official traveling with the delegation stated,
"We have concerns about possible technology transfers from Chinese
entities to Iran and Pakistan. We continue to discuss those with China
and believe they are taking steps to address those problems." Holum
stated, "We are working with them on a road map and a set of steps"
necessary for the PRC to join the Missile Technology Control Regime.
5. PRC Missile Development
US State Dept. Spokesman James Rubin ("STATE DEPARTMENT NOON BRIEFING
NOVEMBER 12, 1998," USIA Transcript, 11/13/98) said that the test of a
new PRC Intercontinental Ballistic Missile described in the Washington
Times would not involve the missile in question going anywhere. Rubin
stated, "It would land within a few feet of the launcher, which seemed
[sic] a poor way to send a message to anyone. Despite some recent
modernization, China's nuclear forces remain far smaller in number than
those of the United States or Russia." He added, "China's strategic
missile force has had the capability to reach parts of the United States
for many years."
6. Taiwan WTO Entry
Dow Jones Newswires (Peter Wonacott, "TAIWAN'S WANG SAYS U.S., AUSTRALIA
SUPPORT WTO ENTRY," Kuala Lumpur, 12/13/98) reported that Taiwanese
Economics Minister Wang Chih-kang said Friday that US Trade
Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Australian Trade Minister Tim
Fischer had offered strong support for Taiwan's membership in the World
Trade Organization (WTO). Wang said that Barshefsky said Taiwan's entry
would be based on market--rather than political--considerations, while
Fischer said that the WTO would not be a "complete organization" without
Taiwan.
7. Taiwanese Aid to Asia
Reuters (Jeffrey Parker, "TAIWAN OFFERS AID TO OTHER ASIAN NATIONS,"
Taipei, 11/13/98) reported that P.K. Chiang, who will represent Taiwan at
Monday's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Malaysia,
said that Taiwan will offer billions of dollars in aid to Asian countries
hurt by the economic crisis. Chiang stated, "We are among the members of
APEC and we are also a member of the region. When any crisis comes, we
also suffer." Chiang said that he expected to exchange handshakes and
small talk with PRC President Jiang Zemin, but the tight summit schedule
left no time for bilateral discussions and no talks were planned. He
added that he hoped the PRC would ease what he called its unrelenting
pressure on Taiwan and instead realize how much Taiwan, the PRC and Hong
Kong could accomplish in Asia if they worked together. Chiang stated,
"If put together, we have US$300 billion in foreign reserves and could
play a very important role in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia's
financial stability. But they reject the idea. We do want to fully
contribute to APEC, to the region, but politically there is kind of
intervention. They are not willing to cooperate."
8. Japan-Russia Summit
The Washington Post (Daniel Williams, "RUSSIA, JAPAN MOVE TOWARD
COMPROMISE ON ISLANDS," Moscow, 11/13/98, A36) reported that Russian
President Boris Yeltsin and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on
Thursday made arrangements for talks over the disputed Kuril islands.
The two agreed to set up a committee to study joint economic development
of the Kurils, and a second committee to study territorial issues.
Obuchi offered US$100 million in development money to supplement US$800
million in loans already pledged to Russia this year, while Yeltsin
granted permission for aging former residents of the islands to return
for tourism. Obuchi's spokesman stated, "I think we are solidly on the
way to a peace treaty by the year 2000."
9. US Policy toward South Asia
Reuters ("U.S. SPELLS OUT STAND ON SOUTH ASIAN NUCLEAR ARMS," New Delhi,
11/13/98) reported that US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott on
Friday spelled out US policy on nuclear arms control in South Asia in the
Times of India. Talbott said that India and Pakistan must sign the
nuclear test ban treaty, curb their nuclear and missile programs, and
make peace. Talbott said that many Indians and Pakistanis had argued
that their nuclear tests would usher in an extended period of nuclear
stability in South Asia comparable with the one that preserved the peace
between the US and the Soviet Union. He stated, "It is almost as though
they see Cold War brinksmanship between the superpowers as something to
be emulated. We hope they will look at the record again, not from the
vantage point of having seen the Cold War end peacefully but rather from
the hard-headed perspective of what it took to manage the rivalry." One
Western diplomat said the article might be designed to restart reasoned
debate on the issue in India.
The Associated Press ("U.S. TALBOTT: U.S. NOT RELYING ON INDIA'S NUCLEAR
VOW," New Delhi, 11/13/98) reported that US Deputy Secretary of State
Strobe Talbott said Friday that the US does not feel comfortable with
assurances by India that it will not be the first nation to use nuclear
weapons in case of war with Pakistan. Talbott stated, "We feel it's is
not as important as the kind of weapons they have or the kind of rivalry
in hardware."
1. US-ROK-Japanese Policy toward the DPRK
The Sankei Shimbun (Masahiro Tanaka, "US PRESIDENT WILL REAFFIRM TO
MAINTAIN ALLIANCE," Washington, 11/13/98) reported that US President Bill
Clinton will likely discuss security issues in addition to economic
issues with Japanese and ROK leaders when he visits them. According to
the report, the White House told both Japanese and ROK authorities on
November 11 that Clinton will discuss resumption of dialogue with the
DPRK through the US-DPRK talks and the Four Party Peace Talks and ask
Japan to continue its aid to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development
Organization and humanitarian aid to the DPRK. The report also said
that, according to ROK sources, the talks between Clinton and ROK
President Kim Dae-jung on November 21 and 22 will focus on the DPRK's
threat and reaffirm a strong security alliance between the US and the ROK
by maintaining the present number of the US forces in the ROK. However,
the US will ask the ROK to continue to pay the same amount of the cost of
maintaining the US forces as last year. The ROK paid 75 percent of the
total cost of US$399 million last year. The report quoted an ROK source
as saying, "Because the economic crisis is calming down, the same amount
will be maintained." However, depending on the outcome of the talks
between US Peace Talks Ambassador Charles Kartman and the DPRK slated for
November 16, "Clinton's message to the ROK may become stronger,"
according to the same ROK source. The report added that Kartman would
ask again the DPRK to allow inspections in the suspected nuclear
construction sites. The DPRK has been criticizing the US demand as
"infringing on a sovereignty." As for Clinton's visit to Japan, Clinton
will ask Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to ease the sanctions on the DPRK
which Japan imposed in the wake of the DPRK's missile test, including the
banning of chartered flights between Japan and the DPRK.
2. Anti-Korean Violence in Japan
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("CHOSENSOREN ASK CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FOR
PREVENTIVE MEASURE AGAINST HARASSMENT TO DPRK RESIDENTS IN JAPAN,"
11/11/98) reported that Kim Tae-hi, deputy chairman of Chosensoren,
visited Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka at the Prime Ministerial
official residence on November 11 and asked Nonaka to strengthen
preventive measures against harassment of pro-DPRK Korean residents in
Japan. The harassment includes the bullying of Korean students and the
recent petrol bomb attack on the Chosensoren headquarters. In response
to Kim's demand, Nonaka said, "My heart aches (because of these
incidents). These incidents should have not happened and should not
happen again. Based on your demand, I will instruct the related
authorities."
3. Japan-Russia Summit
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("JAPAN AND RUSSIA DECIDE TO PUT NORTHERN TERRITORIES
UNDER JOINT CONTROL," Moscow, 11/13/98) reported that, during the summit
talks between Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and Russian President
Boris Yeltsin on November 12, in response to the Japanese proposal of
delimitation of the northern territories put forward in Moscow in last
April, Yeltsin proposed to designate the territories as special areas
which would make Japanese economic activities free of tax and to put the
territories under joint control. Obuchi announced that he would
officially respond to the proposal during Yeltsin's visit to Japan slated
for next spring. Also, Yeltsin agreed to Obuchi's proposal to establish
a committee on delimitation of the territories. They also agreed to
establish a committee on joint economic activities and to permit free
visits to the four islands by the former residents of these islands.
However, the report pointed out that there is opposition to Yeltsin's
proposal within the Japanese government. Regarding the Russian
proposals, a Japanese government spokesman said, "They signify that
Russia is interested in substantial negotiations and the former
residents' visits may lead to obtaining the right of partial control of
these territories." However, there is concern within the Japanese
government that Russia's proposal aims to conclude a peace treaty by
shelving the territorial issue.
4. Japanese Defense Agency Head's Resignation
The Yomiuri Shimbun ("DEFENSE AGENCY DIRECTOR GENERAL NUKAGA WILL RESIGN
ON NOVEMBER 24," 11/12/98) reported that Defense Agency Director General
Fukushiro Nukaga, whom the previous extraordinary Diet session held
responsible for the Defense Agency's scandal, decided on November 11 to
resign on November 24, when the final report on the agency's suspected
hiding of evidence related to the scandal will be announced. Prime
Minister Keizo Obuchi will accept Nukaga's decision because it would be
difficult to conduct the next extraordinary Diet session slated for
November 27 while keeping Nukaga in the cabinet. The report added that
at this stage, the most likely candidate successor to Nukaga is Kosuke
Hori, who has good connections with opposition parties.
1. ROK-PRC Summit
People's Daily ("PRESIDENT JIANG AND KIM HAVE A MEETING," Beijing,
11/13/98, A1) reported that PRC President Jiang Zemin met with visiting
ROK President Kim Dae-jung on November 12. They exchanged their views on
bilateral relations and issues of common concern, and reached a
comprehensive consensus. The presidents agreed to establish Sino-ROK
cooperative relations geared towards the next century. Such a
relationship is significant because it lays the framework, and outlines
the direction, for the development of cross-century bilateral ties, they
agreed. During the meeting, President Kim acknowledged that Taiwan is
part of China and that the ROK will continue observing the "one China"
principle outlined in the Sino-ROK Joint Communique. As to the Korean
issue, Kim said that the ROK is devoted to peace and stability on the
Korean Peninsula, and is willing to alleviate tensions through
discussions and strengthening mutual trust with the DPRK. Relations on
the Peninsula are improving gradually, and becoming more relaxed, which
is gratifying to the PRC, Jiang said. According to him, safeguarding
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula is the PRC's guiding
principle when dealing with Peninsula-related affairs. The PRC hopes the
two parties on the Korean Peninsula will gradually strengthen mutual
trust and improve relations through dialogues and contacts. The PRC
welcomes the improved relations between the DPRK and the US, as well as
relations between the DPRK and Japan. The PRC hopes the four-party
talks, involving the US, the PRC, the ROK, and the DPRK, will lead to
peace on the Peninsula, Jiang said.
2. Hyundai Founder's Trip to DPRK
People's Liberation Army Daily ("CHUNG'S VISIT TO N. KOREA CREATES
FAVORABLE ATMOSPHERE," 11/07/98, A4) carried a commentary saying that the
visit by Chung Ju-yung, the honorary chairman of Hyundai, to the DPRK is
conducive to alleviating tensions on Korean Peninsula. It is common
knowledge that the two countries on Korean Peninsula are still in
political and military confrontation, the commentary said, and it is
necessary to take measures to push forward bilateral relations, which are
in a deadlock. At present, the four-party talks among the ROK, the DPRK,
the US, and the PRC have made some positive impact on the relaxation of
the tensions on Korean Peninsula. However, Chung Ju-yung's visit to the
DPRK probably will produce special results because it pushes forward
bilateral relations in a non-governmental way.
3. PRC-US Relations
China Daily ("US MOVES ON TAIWAN, DALAI LAMA DRAW PROTESTS," 11/12/98,
A1) reported that the PRC lodged an official protest on November 11 with
the US Government for sending Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to visit
Taiwan recently and allowing the Dalai Lama to visit the US and meet US
leaders. In a statement in Beijing on November 11, PRC Foreign Ministry
spokesman Zhu Bangzao said that the PRC Government has expressed its
serious concern and strong displeasure over these erroneous moves on the
part of the US and has protested to the US Government. The PRC has
consistently opposed any official contact between the US and Taiwan,
especially any visits to Taiwan by US cabinet-level officials, he said.
Richardson's visit and his meeting with Lee Teng-hui and other senior
political figures constituted a serious violation of the principles of
the three Sino-US Joint Communiques and the US commitments not to have
any official contact with Taiwan. Turning to the issue of the Dalai
Lama, Zhu said he is a political exile engaged in splittist activities
against China and a long-time advocate of "Tibetan independence." By
allowing the Dalai Lama to visit the US and arranging for him to meet
Clinton and other US leaders and government officials, the US has
seriously violated its oft-stated position of recognizing Tibet as part
of Chinese territory and not supporting "Tibetan independence." "We
strongly oppose such acts, which are absolutely unacceptable to us," Zhu
said.
China Daily ("DIRECT INFLUENCE," 11/13/98, A2) reported that General
Zhang Wannian, vice chairman of the PRC Central Military Commission, met
with former US Defense Secretary Harold Brown. Zhang noted hard-won
achievements in Sino-US relations, and said that both sides should extend
greater efforts to maintain and develop relations. History attests that
properly handling of the Taiwan issue, the key point in Sino-US
relations, has a direct influence on the development of bilateral
relations, Zhang said.
4. PRC-Japanese Relations
People's Daily ("JIANG MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF ASAHI SHIMBUN," Beijing,
11/12/98, A1) reported that when meeting with Muneyuki Matsuhita,
president of the Asahi Shimbun, in Beijing on November 11, PRC President
Jiang Zemin said that the PRC and Japan will cooperate in shaping the
framework for the future of friendly Sino-Japanese relations. The
framework should be based on keeping the past in mind and looking to the
future. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the PRC-
Japan Peace and Friendship Treaty. President Jiang will go to visit
Japan on November 25, and he said his forthcoming visit would be
extremely important. Jiang stressed that Sino-Japanese relations will
continue to grow in a stable and sound manner as long as the two nations
adhere strictly to the spirit and the principles of the treaty and the
PRC-Japan joint statement to resolve any differences of opinion.
5. Japanese Defense Chief's Resignation
China Daily ("OFFICIAL TO RESIGN," 11/13/98, A11) reported that Japanese
defense chief Fukushiro Nukaga is expected to resign later this month to
take responsibility for a procurement scandal dogging his agency,
Japanese media reported on November 12. Kyodo news agency, quoting
unnamed sources, said Nukaga was to resign from his post after releasing
a set of measures to reform the agency's procurement system. Prosecutors
are investigating allegations that contractors colluded with agency
officials in overcharging the government for military equipment in return
for agreeing to hire a retired agency official.
6. Japan-Russia Summit
China Daily ("JAPAN, RUSSIA SEEKING FLEXIBILITY OVER ISLES," Tokyo,
11/11/98, A11) reported that Japan indicated on November 10, the eve of
Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's trip to Russia, that it is ready
to be flexible on the territorial dispute over the Kuril islands. Up to
now, the Japanese Government has taken an all-or-nothing stance on the
return of what it calls the Northern Territories. Obuchi's deputy
spokesman, Akitaka Saiki, said negotiations in Moscow with Russian
President Boris Yeltsin will be difficult, but a compromise is possible.
His comments appear to be a departure from Japan's stance that it will
accept nothing less than the return of all four disputed islands, the
report said. "One party can't gain 100 per cent, nor can the other lose
100 per cent," Saiki said. "There should be something in the middle that
can satisfy both sides." Asked by a reporter about the possibility Japan
can accept a compromise of the return of two islands, Habomai and
Shikotan, as proposed by Russia as far back as 1955, Saiki said it is
possible. Japan will seriously consider a Russian counterproposal to a
border demarcation proposal made by then Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro
Hashimoto during summit talks in April with President Boris Yeltsin in
Kawana, Saiki said.
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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