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Northeast Asia Peace and Security Network DAILY REPORT For Wednesday, December 23, 1998, from Berkeley, California, USA |
1. Sinking of DPRK Vessel
The Associated Press ("NORTH KOREA REJECTS BORDER TALKS, Seoul, 12/23/98)
reported that the DPRK on Wednesday rejected a proposal by the UN Command
(UNC) for border talks to discuss the sinking of a suspected DPRK spy
boat in ROK waters. In a news release announcing the rejection, the UNC
said that the DPRK was obliged by previous agreement to discuss possible
violations of the Armistice Agreement.
2. DPRK Missile Launches
US State Department Spokesman Lee McClenny ("STATE DEPARTMENT NOON
BRIEFING DECEMBER 22," USIA Transcript, 12/22/98) said that there is no
basis for reports that the DPRK is preparing a ballistic missile test.
McClenny added, "We view the North Korean missile program as a serious
threat to the region and will continue to press North Korea to cease all
development, testing and export of missiles and missile technology.
We've made clear to Pyongyang that any further missile tests would have
very serious consequences for any improvement in our relations with North
Korea. And we continue to consult very closely with our Japanese and
South Korean allies on North Korean issues."
3. ROK Military
The Christian Science Monitor carried an analytical article (Michael
Baker, "S. KOREA HIT BY A WAVE OF MILITARY MISHAPS," Seoul, 12/23/98, 1)
which said that recent mishaps in the ROK military have led some
observers to question whether compulsory military service is resulting in
discipline problems. Michael Breen, a DPRK expert based in Sussex,
England, said that following the 1996 DPRK submarine incident, the ROK
government essentially sent "[university] students in uniform to hunt
North Korean special forces." The article said that many middle-class
ROK males resent the compulsory 26 months of military service. It also
said that some university students have complained that the ROK military
is unprofessional. It quoted an ex-soldier as saying, "In Korea, being a
soldier is not a good job." However, US Army spokeswoman Lee Ferguson
said that the US is satisfied with the capabilities of the ROK military.
She stated, "We train 'joint and combined' every day, and our training
equates to a very high readiness." The article quoted Yang Sung-jin,
recently discharged from the ROK army as a sergeant, as saying that there
is "no [quality difference] between US and South Korean soldiers." [Ed.
note: This article was carried in the US Department of Defense's Early
Bird news service.]
4. ROK Economy
Reuters ("SKOREA, IMF AGREE ON TREND, NOT FORECAST," Seoul, 12/22/98)
reported that Hyun Oh-seok, director general of the economic policy
bureau of the ROK Finance Ministry, said on Tuesday that the ROK and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) agree on the future direction of the
economy despite disparate growth projections for next year. Hyun stated,
"Basically, we are along the same line. The IMF expects some kind of
recovery and so do we. The difference is where and when." The IMF said
on Monday that the ROK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would shrink 7.0
percent this year and one percent in 1999, while the ROK has projected
that GDP would contract 5.5 to 6.0 percent in 1998 and show positive
growth of two percent next year.
5. Taiwanese Missile Development
The Associated Press ("TAIWAN TO EMPLOY MORE HOME-DEVELOPED MISSILES -
DEFENSE MIN," Taipei, 12/23/98) reported that Taiwanese Defense Minister
Chiang Chung-ling said Wednesday that the military plans to cut back
purchases of foreign-made anti-aircraft missiles after domestically
produced versions were successfully tested. Chiang stated, "Our policy
is to give priority to weapons systems that we can produce domestically."
He said that the air force has already ordered Taiwan-made Sky Bow
surface-to-air missiles from the military-run Chungshan Institute of
Technology and Science, which developed them. Chiang did not comment on
a newspaper report that Taiwan will suspend its purchases of US-made
Avenger air defense systems, which use Stinger surface-to-air missiles.
The China Times said the Taiwanese army decided to take delivery of 70
such systems, instead of the originally planned 200, to save funds in
preparation for Taiwan's participation in the US-proposed theater missile
defense program. The report said that the navy and air forces will also
cut back their purchases of Stingers.
6. Taiwanese Toxic Waste Exports
The Associated Press (Chris Fontaine, "CAMBODIANS CLEANING UP TOXIC
WASTE," Sihanoukville, 12/23/98) and Reuters ("CAMBODIANS DON CHEMICAL
SUITS TO GATHER UP WASTE," Sihanoukville, 12/23/98) reported that
Cambodian soldiers wearing protective suits on Wednesday began cleaning
up 3,000 tons of suspected toxic waste imported from Taiwan. Cambodian
Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng stated, "We have to force this
[Taiwanese] company to pay damages." Officials said that they hoped the
start of the cleanup would ease the public outcry over the waste.
Environment Minister Mok Mareth said initial tests conducted on samples
of the waste have shown it contains the poisonous metal mercury, but the
level of the toxicity is not yet known. A team of chemical experts from
the Thai army concluded the material is not radioactive. Prince Norodom
Ranariddh, president of the National Assembly, has said that a US$3
million bribe was paid to government and port officials to allow the
waste into the country.
7. Ratification of START II
Reuters (Ivan Rodin, "START-2 PACT ON DUMA '99 PLAN BUT FATE IN FOG,"
Moscow, 12/22/98) and the Washington Post (David Hoffman, "RUSSIAN
PARLIAMENT DELAYS WORK ON START II TREATY," 12/23/98, 16) reported that
the Russian Duma has kept a ratification debate on the START II nuclear
arms reduction treaty on its agenda for 1999, despite criticism of US
strikes against Iraq. Vladimir Ryzhkov, first deputy speaker of the
State Duma, said Tuesday that inclusion of the debate in the spring
session starting on January 12 "signals [the Duma's] intention to
continue work on this international treaty." He added, however, "The
document is on the agenda but there is no guarantee that it will be
ratified or discussed during the spring session." Duma speaker Gennady
Seleznyov said Tuesday, "By giving the order to bomb Iraq, the U.S.
president and British prime minister raised a serious obstacle on the
path to ratification of START-2. We are now not reviewing this
document." However Roman Popkovich, chairman of the Duma defense
committee, stated, "The postponement [of debate] is in no way linked to
the bombardment of Iraq.... We had received the government's feasibility
study for the development of the strategic nuclear forces and we needed
time to study those materials." He added that he was convinced "Russia
is more than anyone interested in the pact." Popkovich said that the
Duma could debate the ratification in the second half of February. [Ed.
note: This article was carried in the US Department of Defense's Early
Bird news service.]
8. US-Pakistan Fighter Dispute
The Associated Press ("U.S. STRIKES DEAL WITH PAKISTAN ON DECADE-OLD SALE
OF F-16S," Washington, 12/23/98) reported that US officials said that the
US and Pakistan have worked out an agreement under which Pakistan will be
compensated for US-made F-16 fighter planes that it bought but never
received. In exchange, Pakistan will withdraw its claim to the planes.
The officials said that New Zealand has agreed to lease or buy all of the
aircraft, with all proceeds to be used to reimburse the US Treasury for
the money paid to Pakistan. Pakistan also will receive US$2.3 million
from the US Defense Department as a refund from a prior sale of some of
the equipment associated with the F-16s. US President Bill Clinton said
in a White House statement, "I have long sought an equitable solution to
this difficult problem, and I am pleased that Prime Minister Sharif and I
have been able to reach agreement."
1. ROK Contributions to US Military Costs
China Daily ("ROK TO PAY LESS FOR KEEPING US TROOPS," Seoul, 12/23/98,
A11) reported that the ROK's contribution to the cost of maintaining
35,000 US troops in the country will decrease to US$333 million next year
from US$399 million in 1998, the US Forces Korea (USFK) said on December
22. The USFK said in a statement that the ROK and the US had negotiated
a new "Special Measures Agreement" for the 1999-2001 period, in which the
ROK would shoulder less of a burden of the estimated annual US$1.33
billion price tag for keeping US troops in the ROK. The ROK Defense
Ministry said that out of the US$333 million, payment of US$40 million
would be deferred to the following year. About 57 percent of the ROK's
contributions will be paid in the local currency, the ROK Defense
Ministry said, leaving US$141.2 million to be paid in US dollars.
2. Sinking of DPRK Submarine
People's Daily ("DPRK DENIES HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SUBMARINE
INCIDENT," Pyongyang, 12/21/98, A6) reported that a DPRK spokesman for
the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said on
December 18 that the so-called "submarine incident" off the southern
coast of the ROK had nothing to do with the DPRK. The DPRK can no longer
remain a passive onlooker to such actions of South Korea and will take
resolute measures so that the provokers may drink a bitter cup, the DPRK
spokesman said.
3. PRC-US Relations
China Daily ("CPC WILLING TO FORGE TIES WITH TWO US PARTIES," 12/23/98,
A1) reported that the Communist Party of China (CPC) reaffirmed its
commitment to forging ties with other foreign political parties,
including the US Republican and Democratic parties. Dai Bingguo, a
leading Party official, said on December 22 that relations between the US
parties and the CPC hinge on the willingness of all sides to cooperate.
Although the CPC has made similar overtures before, this represents the
reinforcement of a significant development in Sino-US relations, the
newspaper said.
4. PRC View on International Situation
China Daily ("MILITARY INTERFERENCE A THREAT," 12/22/98, A1) reported
that a high-ranking PRC military official warned on December 21 that the
increasing use of military interference by some powers is threatening
world peace. "To reach their own goals, they tend to take unilateral
military action toward their opponents, disregarding the authority of
international organizations such as the United Nations," said Xiong
Guangkai, deputy chief of the general staff of the People's Liberation
Army. He spoke at a seminar held by the China Institute for
International Strategic Studies in Beijing. While there were few actual
military conflicts, Xiong cautioned that great attention should be paid
to military intervention by certain powers. He did not name any country
specifically.
5. PRC Launch of US Satellites
Jie Fang Daily ("CHINA SUCCESSFULLY SEND US SATELLITES INTO ORBIT,"
Taiyuan, 12/20/98, A1) reported that the PRC sent two US-made satellites
into planned orbit on December 19. It is the fifth consecutive
successful mission of the improved Long March 2C rocket for the Iridium
program within a year, the report said.
1. Job Opportunity
The Asia Monitor Resource Center (AMRC), a regional non-governmental
organization focusing in labor issues in Asia, is seeking applicants for
the position of full time Research Coordinator in the field of Asian
labor and development. Responsibilities include: planning and budgeting
research projects, liaising with project partners, organizing training
workshops, overseeing implementation of AMRC's projects, and writing
research projects. The position requires experience in working in a
trade union, non-governmental organization or with Asian labor and/or
development issues; strong English communication and writing skills;
experience in planning and implementing research projects; and a strong
foundation in labor-related issues. One Asian language is preferred.
Interested parties should send a cover letter and resume postmarked by
January 15, 1999 to: Apo Leung, Director, Asia Monitor Resource Center,
444 Nathan Road, 8-B, Kowloon, Hong Kong. (Fax: +852 2385-5319; Tel: +852
2332-1346; E-mail: amrc@hk.super.net or alarm@hk.super.net )
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