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I. United States1. DPRK View of ROK Missile Development Associated Press ("N. KOREA WARNS SOUTH OVER MISSILES," Seoul, 11/24/99) reported that the DPRK on Wednesday accused the ROK of developing longer-range missiles and threatened to take a "stronger countermeasure." The DPRK newspaper Rodong Sinmun said, "if the South Korean rulers persist in their desperate moves to develop ballistic missiles despite our warnings, we will take a stronger countermeasure against it." The paper did not specify what measure the DPRK would take. Agence France Presse ("N.KOREA ACCUSES US OF DOUBLE STANDARD ON MISSILE DEVELOPMENTS," Seoul, 11/23/99) reported that the DPRK Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a dispatch "the United States has connived at and encouraged the moves for ballistic missile development in South Korea under its domination." KCNA said the US was "decrying" DPRK's "peaceful" satellite launch "as a missile launch and threat. Such double-dealing attitude of the United States betrays its unchangeable aggressive ambition to stifle the DPRK by force." Referring to the US- ROK agreement to extend ROK missile range to 300 kilometers, KCNA said, "this is an extremely adventurous arms buildup aimed at escalating the military confrontation between the North and South and bringing the situation in Korea to the brink of war." It called on the ROK and the US to halt "their criminal ballistic missile development," because the two countries "will be held fully responsible for the ensuing dangerous consequences." 2. ROK Defoliant Use Agence France Presse ("S.KOREA PREPARING STATE COMPENSATION FOR DEFOLIANT VICTIMS," Seoul, 11/24/99) reported that ROK officials said on Wednesday that ROK victims of US-made toxic defoliants sprayed in the ROK three decades ago will receive the same state compensation as victims of the Vietnam War. The state compensation laws for the defoliants victims of the Vietnam War stipulate monthly financial aid ranging from 200,000 won (US$171) to 2.11 million won (US$1,800), free education for the victims' families, free medical services, and preferential loans. US Defense Secretary William Cohen said on November 22 after holding annual security talks in Washington with the ROK defense chief, "the United States, as far as the department of defense is concerned, does not recognize any legal liability." 3. US-ROK Talks Reuters (Charles Aldinger, "US, SOUTH KOREA OFFER WARNING, CARROT TO PYONGYANG," Washington, 11/23/99) reported that US Defense Secretary William Cohen and visiting ROK Defense Minister Cho Seong-tae pledged on November 22 to maintain a strong joint military on the Korean peninsula while offering possible additional aid to the DPRK in exchange for a less belligerent posture. Cohen said, "Pyongyang faces an important choice. It can pursue peace and prosperity for its people through cooperation, or it can continue its isolation through confrontation. Whichever choice North Korea makes, the United States and the Republic of Korea will be united in facing military threats and in pursuing diplomatic opportunities." Cho stated, "Secretary Cohen and I reconfirmed our common position of building on our undeviating alliance of half a century. The security situation on the Korean peninsula still remains fluid despite some recent positive changes on the part of North Korea. We agreed to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. combined defense posture based on this assessment." 4. PRC Construction of Missile Base The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, "CHINA POINTS MORE MISSILES AT TAIWAN," 11/23/99) reported that anonymous government officials said that US spy satellites in mid-October photographed the PRC construction of a People's Liberation Army (PLA) missile base at Yangang, some 275 miles from Taiwan. The officials said the construction is being carried out for the planned deployment of a brigade of advanced CSS-7 missile, which can carry several different types of warheads up to about 300 miles and is estimated to have 16 launchers and up to 96 missiles. The Washington Times (Bill Gertz, "U.S. MIGHT SELL MISSILE SHIELDS TO AID TAIWAN," 11/24/99) reported that State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said, "We have made clear to the Chinese government our concerns regarding Chinese missile developments and their influence on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. We have a strong interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. That is why we have approved defensive-arms sales to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act." Taiwan Foreign Minister Jason Hu said in an interview with the Washington Times, "this is strictly not helpful in reducing tensions and maintaining peace and security in our region. Furthermore, it does not help the [People's Republic of China] in its avowed efforts to improve relations with the United States." Rubin declined to comment directly on the alleged missile base but said, "we do not preclude the possible sale of such systems to Taiwan in the future. Our interest, however, is in preserving peace and stability in the region and any final decision will be made on that basis." Asked later about the possible theater missile-defense sales, Rubin said the US has "an active dialogue" with the Taiwanese government on the issue; however, specific sales of effective missile defenses are "premature" because advanced missile defenses such as the Army's Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) are still under development. Rubin also said that Taiwan has purchased early versions of the Patriot anti- missile system, the HAWK, Chaparral and Sky Guard air-defense systems, and the vehicle-mounted Stinger Avenger anti-aircraft missile that has some capability to hit incoming missiles. Agence France Presse ("CHINA DENIES REPORT IT TARGETING NEW MISSILES AT TAIWAN," Beijing, 11/24/99) and Associated Press ("TAIWAN: CHINESE MISSILE BASE FOUND," Taipei, 11/24/99) reported that a spokesman at the PRC foreign ministry denied that the PRC was targeting short-range missiles at Taiwan. The spokesman said, "we only have one simple comment concerning this report and that is it is full of ulterior motives and not worth commenting on." Agence France Presse ("TAIWAN CONFIRMS CHINA DEPLOYING 100 MORE SHORT- RANGE MISSILES," Taipei, 11/24/99) reported that Taiwan Defense Minister Tang Fei confirmed the report of PRC construction of a missile base close to Taiwan. Tang stated, "the information we gathered is close to the reports. The missiles are apparently aimed at us. ... We are keeping a close eye on the development. What we badly need now is to build a low-altitude anti-missile system." A research team at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology told a press conference that several breakthroughs had been made in developing an anti-ballistic missile system. Unconfirmed reports said that Taiwan may buy up to six batteries of PAC-III missiles from the US to defend built-up areas in central and southern Taiwan. 5. PRC on ABM Reuters (Benjamin Kang Lim, "CHINA REJECTS U.S. ANTI-MISSILE DEFENSE PLANS," Beijing, 11/24/99) reported that the Director of the PRC Foreign Ministry's Department of Arms Control and Disarmament Sha Zukang wrote in the official China Daily on Wednesday that US plans to build an anti- missile defense system could upset global and regional stability. Sha also said, "if such a balance and stability were shattered, the nuclear disarmament process would come to a grind or even be reversed. It will only poison the atmosphere, undermine the conditions necessary for nuclear disarmament and breed a potential danger of an arms race. Who can guarantee that other non-nuclear states will not go nuclear?" Sha called on the US to "embrace" the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty signed with the former Soviet Union. Sha also said the US has "far too frequently, used or threatened to use force in international affairs in a bid to seek its own absolute security and military superiority. We hold the view that countries that are the loudest advocates for missile non-proliferation are exactly the ones that have actually aggravated missile proliferation" 6. PRC Entry into G-8 Agence France Presse ("CHINA SAYS WILLING TO INCREASE CONTACT WITH G-8," Beijing, 11/24/99) reported that PRC foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said on November 22 that the PRC was willing to maintain contacts and increase exchanges with the Group of Eight (G-8) nations. Sun added, however, "first of all we hope that the G-8 will play a positive role in strengthening international cooperation, promoting world stability and balancing development, and in particular in narrowing the gap between the north and the south. We maintain that while discussing global issues it is necessary that the G-8 listen to the opinions of other countries, particularly the developing countries." 7. PRC Activities in Panama Canal Associated Press ("CHINA ATTACK ON U.S. SAID POSSIBLE," Washington, 11/24/99) reported that former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Retired Admiral Thomas Moorer said on November 22 at a news conference sponsored by the John Birch society that the PRC is preparing to take over the Panama Canal once the US relinquishes control to use the area to launch a nuclear attack on the US. Moorer said the PRC plans to seize control through a Hong Kong company, Hutchison Whampoa Limited, which has won the right to operate ports on both sides of the canal and has links to the PRC military. Hutchison Whampoa Limited owner Li Ka- shing rejected the criticisms as a "joke." 8. Taiwan Entry into WTO Agence France Presse ("TIMING OF CHINA, TAIWAN ACCESSION TO WTO IS DELICATE QUESTION," Washington, 11/24/99) reported that analysts said on Wednesday that the political ramifications of the timing of the PRC and Taiwan's accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO) is proving a delicate question. Director of global economic policy at the Washington-based New America Foundation said, "timing is a delicate question. The delicate issue is to try and make sure that upon China's accession that Taiwan comes in right away." Senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington Nancy Birdsall said, "each of these two economies is incredibly sensitive to the entry of the other into any international forum. Everyone will hope that (Beijing) won't create a barrier to Taiwan's accession as well." 9. Spratly Island Dispute Agence France Presse ("CHINA SAYS NOT READY TO SIGN SPRATLYS CODE OF CONDUCT," Kuala Lumpur, 11/23/99) reported that PRC foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said on November 22 that no agreement had been reached on a code of conduct over the disputed Spratly islands. Zhu added, "we regard the code of conduct as an important document between China and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations). At the moment, between China and ASEAN and also within ASEAN, agreement has not been reached on the contents of such a document. We hope that after this Ten Plus One meeting (ASEAN and the PRC), detailed and in-depth discusssions can continue." The proposed code is expected to be among the key topics at a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila, Philippines on November 28. 10. PRC-India Relations Agence France Presse ("INDIA, CHINA RESUME TALKS ON NAGGING BORDER DISPUTE," New Delhi, 11/24/99) reported that Indian officials said an experts' delegation from the PRC headed by Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry's Asia Department Sun Quoqians met with Indian officials in New Delhi on Wednesday in renewed border talks. Officials from the People's Liberation Army and the PRC defense ministry were part of the visiting eight-member team. The negotiations were aimed at promoting mutual understanding and finding peaceful ways to resolve the border problem. 11. Japan-India Talks Agence France Presse ("JAPAN URGES INDIA TO SIGN NUCLEAR TREATY," Toyko, 11/24/99) reported that an unnamed Japanese official said that Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Wednesday urged India's government to sign the global nuclear test ban treaty to remove a lingering thorn in relations. According to a Japanese foreign ministry official, Obuchi told visiting Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, "underlying relations are good between Japan and India but the nuclear problem is still a thorn" and the thorn would be removed if India signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Obuchi's deputy press secretary Akitaka Saiki said Singh had told Obuchi that India's parliament was preparing to meet to find a consensus on the CTBT. Saiki said the meeting could be a "first step" towards India signing the treaty and "the prime minister said India is an important and responsible member of the international community. He hoped that the government of India would make efforts to build a domestic consensus." 12. US-RF Talks on ABM Associated Press (Edith M. Lederer, "U.S. MISSILE CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED IN ABM, RUSSIA SAYS," United Nations, 11/23/99) reported that the RF suggested on November 21 that US concerns about rogue states firing missiles at the US could be addressed within the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty's existing amendments. Russia's UN Ambassador Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference on November 21 that the proposed U.S. changes would ruin the treaty, bury existing arms control agreements, and destroy "the cornerstone of international stability." He added, however, that the RF was ready to address US concerns about the increased threats of missile proliferation and suggested that US concerns could be discussed in the context of amendments to the treaty. 1. ROK Policy toward DPRK The Korea Herald (Shin Yong-bae, "ENGAGEMENT POLICY ON N. KOREA TO TOP DIPLOMATIC PRIORITIES IN 21ST CENTURY," Seoul, 11/24/99) reported that ROK Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Hong Soon-young said on November 23 that the engagement policy toward the DPRK would be the core of ROK's diplomacy in the 21st century. Hong said in a lecture before the National Defense College in Seoul, "there is no alternative to the engagement policy to induce North Korea to change." He said that the government is pushing for the engagement policy aimed at cooperation and reconciliation under the assumption that the DPRK has no choice but to change. He noted that the DPRK has stabilized its politics since its leader Kim Jong-il assumed the top government post in September 1998 and increased the military's influence on government under its "military- first policy. But the North has no other choice but to change as its isolation from the international community has been deepened amid continued economic difficulties and its advocating the 'juche' (self- reliance) ideology." Hong also reaffirmed that the ROK government would promote its DPRK policy consistently along with the three principles of deterrence of the DPRK's armed provocation, opposition to unification through absorption and promotion of inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation. He also said that DPRK's suspension of its plan to test- fire a long-range missile in return for US's lifting of economic sanctions on the DPRK in September shows that the DPRK is moving to accept the so-called Perry proposal on comprehensive engagement. 2. DPRK Officials to visit US The Korea Herald (Shin Youn-bae, "N.K. OFFICIALS TO VISIT U.S. TO ATTEND SEMINAR," Seoul, 11/24/99) reported that ROK officials said on November 23 that a group of senior DPRK officials plans to visit the US on November 29 to attend a symposium organized by the University of Georgia's Center for the Study of Global Issues (GLOBIS). An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said, "they will discuss with U.S. policy advisers a new phase in relations between the U.S. and North Korea during the seminar." The official said that the five-member DPRK delegation will be led by Kim Hyong-u, vice chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, a governmental agency dealing with countries without diplomatic ties with the DPRK. Kim was the DPRK's previous ambassador to the United Nations. Participants from the US side include Desaix Anderson, executive director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO), former US ambassadors to the ROK James Laney and Donald Gregg, and John Merill, senior foreign affairs analyst with the US State Department. GLOBIS director Park Han said that this is the first time a senior DPRK delegation would visit a US University. Park said, "this symposium represents a tangible effort to facilitate mutual understanding and cooperation between age-old adversaries." 3. Korean War Massacre Chosun Ilbo (Kim Seong-hyeon, "NEW CLAIMS ON KOREAN WAR MASSACRES," Seoul, 11/23/99) reported that according to new claims, US fighter jets indiscriminately fired upon refugees traveling by water between Iyapo in what is now Ando-ri, Nam-myeon, Yosu City, and Keumho and Hoengkan Islands during the Korean War, killing approximately 150 people. The Yosu Community Research Institute claimed on November 21 that it had begun looking into witness accounts after an informant told them what had happened while interviewing her about the Yeosun Incident before the Korean War began. According to the Institute, "after a five day search for documentation and field research, we confirmed that there were two civilian massacres at this time, one each on August 3 and August 7 of 1950." It also said the refugees had been on their way to Cheju Island when they were fired upon. A spokesman for the institute says that it has collected eyewitness accounts from eleven other people who were present during either one of the two incidents. The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho "N.K. EXPLOITS CIVILIAN MASSACRE CASE IN DEALING WITH WASHINGTON," Seoul, 11/23/99) reported that after proposing on November 20 that the ROK, the DPRK, and overseas Korean organizations form a joint team to probe the alleged mass killing of ROK civilians by US soldiers, the DPRK charged on November 22 that US troops also killed 800 DPRK residents in a village of North Hwanghae Province in October 1950. ROK officials noted that if the ROK calls for US compensation for its victims, the DPRK would likely follow suit. An anonymous senior ROK official at the Unification Ministry said, "Pyongyang, which is quite dissatisfied with the latest developments since its landmark agreement in September with Washington not to test-fire a missile, is highly likely to try to make this issue a serious diplomatic topic in dealing with both Seoul and Washington. Under these circumstances, the unfavorable allegations about the U.S. army would be another good source for the North's offensives toward the United States. It is possible that Pyongyang could raise the compensation issue in their bilateral talks." Spokesman for the ministry Shin Eon-sang stated, "North Korea has been escalating its criticism of the issue and has made a proposal to form a joint probe team for the first time. However, it is just the usual propaganda and the government has no plan to respond to it." 4. Dismissed DPRK Envoy to Cambodia The Korea Herald ("N.K. FIRES ENVOY TO CAMBODIA," Seoul, 11/23/99) reported that the DPRK has recently dismissed its ambassador to Cambodia Kim Yong-sop. The dismissal was confirmed in reports on Sunday from the DPRK's Pyongyang Radio and Central Broadcasting Station that the envoy made a farewell call on Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk last Tuesday. The discharge was apparently due to the expiration of Kim's three-year term, which began in May 1996. Born in 1936, Kim served as ambassador to Iraq in April 1980, and vice foreign minister in May 1983. 5. DPRK's View of ROK's Press Joongang Ilbo (Seo Jang-soo, "NK CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT KIM'S REMARKS ON SK PRESS FREEDOM," Seoul, 11/22/99) reported that the DPRK criticized ROK President Kim Dae-jung's November 22 statement proclaiming that no prior ROK government guaranteed freedom of the press more than his administration does now. The DPRK's Rodong Shinmun said on November 21 that President Kim's remarks were far from the truth of ROK's reality in press freedom. The newpaper alleged that the president's remarks flew in the face of reports that the government often called for the press to correct reports on government policies and to cover the government's counter-arguments, which the DPRK daily stated were made to tame or suppress newspapers and broadcasting companies disobedient to the government. Regarding the 'Press Department' established by the National Intelligence Service, the newspaper denounced the ROK government for setting up the organization only to force journalists not to criticize its policies or print the truth. 6. KEDO Meeting The Korea Times (Son Key-young, "KEDO CONVENES EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN NEW YORK," Seoul, 11/22/99) reported that an ROK government official said that a US-led international consortium on November 21 convened an executive council meeting in New York to launch debates on the forthcoming signing of a "turn-key contract" with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The meeting of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) was attended by the organization's director general Desaix Anderson, ROK Ambassador Chang Sun-sup and other council members. "The participants exchanged views on the wording of a draft contract between KEDO and KEPCO," said an official from the Office of Light-water Reactor Planning. At present, there are minor differences among KEDO members over some technical issues involved in the signing of the turn-key contract, he said. If the KEDO participants succeed in narrowing their differences, KEDO and KEPCO will sign the contract next month in a ceremony in Seoul to kick off full-fledged construction of the reactor. If KEPCO is able to make progress in its negotiations with subcontractors, the official did not rule out the possibility that the full-fledged construction work would begin within this year. 7. DPRK Defector to ROK The Korea Times ("SIX NORTH KOREANS DEFECT TO SOUTH VIA THIRD COUNTRY," Seoul, 11/23/99) reported that an ROK prisoner of war and five relatives arrived in the ROK after escaping the DPRK, the main government intelligence agency said on November 22. The defectors included the man's 61-year-old wife, his 35-year-old daughter, 32-year-old son, 28- year-old daughter-in-law and a 7-year-old grandson, it said. The agency said that they escaped the DPRK in January and hid in a "third country." It declined to provide further details, pending an investigation. 8. DPRK Cultural Exchange The Korea Herald (Kim Ji-ho, "N.K ACROBATS MAY PERFORM IN SEOUL NEXT MONTH," Seoul, 11/23/99) reported that the Hyundai Group is trying to bring some acrobats from DPRK's Moranbong Circus Troupe to the ROK in December, when its professional basketball team will engage in friendly matches with the North's players in Seoul, officials said. The second round of inter-Korean basketball matches is scheduled for December 23-24 in the ROK capital city, following the September matches held in Pyongyang, which marked the first such friendly games between the rival Koreas. "Even though the two sides have yet to make final agreements, the circus team will likely provide brief performances here at the half- times of the basketball matches," a Unification Ministry official said. The Moranbong circus show, featuring world-class acrobats, has performed for ROK tourists visiting DPRK's Mt. Kumgang. Meanwhile, another ROK firm's bid to invite the Pyongyang Circus Troupe next month has hit a snag over financial difficulties and interagency disputes in both the ROK and the DPRK. 1. DPRK-US Relations People's Daily (Zhang Li, "DPRK EXPELS US SPY," Pyongyang, 11/20/99, A3) reported that the DPRK on November 19 expelled a US citizen on charge of military espionage. According to the report from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the expelled US citizen, So Sun-dok, was caught red- handed on September 29 when he was stealing military secrets while posing as an investor in the Rajin-Sonbong Economic Zone. The KCNA said So has admitted his crime and his expulsion is a lenient move taken by DPRK in view of the repeated requests from the US government. 2. DPRK-PRC Relations People's Daily (Zhang Li, "CHINESE FREIGHTER SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED," Pyongyang, 11/20/99, A3) reported that according to the report of the Rodong Sinmun on November 19, a PRC freighter was rescued by a freighter from the DPRK on November 16 after losing control in violent typhoon earlier. It said that the DPRK learned at 5:00 PM local time on November 15 that the PRC freighter was hit by a violent typhoon and was drifting on the sea off Wonsan on the eastern coast of the DPRK. The rescue ship rushed to the area of the accident in six hours and took another five hours to locate the PRC vessel in extremely bad weather. The PRC ship was tugged to safety the following morning and all 14 crewmembers on board were safe. 3. ROK-US Relations China Daily ("SQUABBLE OVER AGENT ORANGE," Seoul, 11/18/99, A11) reported that the ROK on November 17 blamed the US military for ordering the use of Agent Orange along the ROK-DPRK border in the late 1960s, rebutting US claims that the ROK made the decision. It said, the secret use of the highly toxic defoliant on the tense border with the North is thought to be the only time it was used outside the Vietnam War. Brigadier General Kim Tae-Young said, "South Korean troops saw that US forces easily removed vegetation by spreading herbicide and asked for the same substance that they had used." 4. ROK-PRC Relations China Daily (Ren Kan, "KIM BACKS CHINA'S WTO ENTRY," Seoul, 11/23/99, A1) reported that ROK President Kim Dae-jung hailed on November 22 the signing of Sino-US agreement over PRC accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) last week and said that he expected expanding economic cooperation between the two East Asian countries. Kim saw the agreement as good news for the whole world and commended the PRC for overcoming obstacles to WTO entry, the report said. Kim said he believed investment and trade relation between the PRC and the ROK would also expand greatly in the future. According to an analysis by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, the PRC's WTO membership will immediately improve the ROK trade balance by US$1 billion to US$1.7 billion a year, the report said. Kim also pointed out that the access to the WTO means that the PRC will face unlimited competition on the global stage. 5. PRC-US Relations People's Daily ("FM SPOKESMAN ON BUSH'S REMARKS CONCERNING SINO-US RELATIONS AND TAIWAN ISSUE," Beijing, 11/24/99, A4) reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said at the regular press conference on November 23 that a stable and healthy PRC-US relationship serves the fundamental interest of the PRC and US peoples as well as peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole. He made the remarks in response to a question requesting comments on US Republic presidential candidate Governor George W. Bush's recent statement that the US should strengthen its relations with its Asia-Pacific allies to contain the PRC, the report said. Sun said according to the report that it is the shared aspiration of the people of all countries in the Asia-Pacific region to promote peace, cooperation and development, and that any attempt to have PRC "checked" does not conform to the fundamental interest of the people of the Asia- Pacific region. A statesman with a vision and a sense of responsibility must see clearly the overall interest of PRC-US relations and the inevitable trend of historical development, he noted. The spokesman said that an early realization of the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people, the people in Taiwan included, adding that the Government and people of PRC have the confidence and ability to fulfill the grand cause of national reunification. The Taiwan question is the most sensitive political question at the very core of PRC-US relations, Sun said, noting that to strictly observe the one-China principle, the three PRC-US joint communiques and the relevant commitments made by the US side is the solemn commitment made by successive US administrations, both Democratic and Republic. Sun said that the Chinese people have chosen a road of development suited to the PRC's national conditions and have scored impressive achievements that draw world attention and that the Chinese people will continue to go along this road with full confidence and firm resolve. "We hope that people of vision in the United States will proceed from the fundamental interest of the people of the two countries and make efforts to safeguard and promote PRC-US relations. China Daily (Meng Yan, "ANTI-CHINA ACT FIRMLY OPPOSED," 11/24/99, A3) reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said during a regular press conference on November 23 that the PRC was firmly opposed to the US anti-China Omnibus Act. The act recently passed by the US Congress demanded the Clinton Administration to report to Congress the efforts they made to support Taiwan in joining international organizations, monitoring the PRC's human rights progress, and providing financial aid to the PRC's so-called Democratic Movement overseas, the report said. The US Senate also passed a resolution on the PRC's human rights stance, making irresponsible remarks and making unreasonable demands of the PRC Government, according to the report. The spokesman urged the US Congress to stop interfering in the PRC's internal affairs, using the Taiwan issue and the PRC's human rights record as an excuse. 6. PRC Spacecraft Launching People's Daily (Yang Jian, "CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES FIRST EXPERIMENTAL SPACECRAFT," Beijing, 11/21/99, A1) reported that the PRC's first experimental spacecraft touched down in the central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern PRC at 3:41 a.m. (PRC time) on November 21, successfully concluding the first flight of the system. The report said, as another milestone in the PRC's astronautical history, the successful launching and retrieval of the spaceship marks the country's new major breakthrough in manned space flight technology. The space vehicle, named "Shenzhou" by PRC President Jiang Zemin, was launched at 6:30 a.m. (Beijing time) on November 20 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province. Ten minutes after takeoff, the spaceship detached itself from its launching vehicle and entered its preset orbit. The report noted that the Spacecraft and carrier rocket were made by the PRC itself. According to technical staff working at the launch site, it was the first time the center of the satellite was completed and tested in the PRC. The center transported the combined body of the space aircraft and booster rockets to the launching site vertically and used the technology of long-distance monitoring and control of the launching. The PRC has built a new land-sea based space monitoring and control network that meets international standards and put it into operation in this first experimental launch, the report said. Officials with the organization work described the program as a huge system that embodies great cooperation between various trades of the country, the report said. The official said the success was a major step toward a PRC manned space flight. The spacecraft was developed and manufactured mainly by the China Research Institute of Carrier Rocket Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology and Shanghai Research Institute of Astronautical Technology. The Beijing Aerospace Directing and Controlling Center organized the tracing, surveying and controlling of the test launch, it said. Relevant departments of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Information Industry took part in the designing, manufacturing and testing in the project, the report added. 7. PRC View on ABM People's Daily (Sha Zukang, "WHY TO SAFEGUARD ABM TREATY," 11/19/99, A7) carried an article written by Sha Zukang, the director of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament of the PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to explain why it was important to safeguard the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. Sha said that the resolution passed by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on November 5 reflects the will and determination of the international community to oppose some country's attempt to amend the ABM Treaty and deploy an anti-ballistic missile system. Sha said the US attempt to amend the treaty aims to remove legal barriers for its National Missile Defense (NMD) development. First, he said, because the ABM Treaty has served as the cornerstone for the maintenance of global strategic balance and stability, amending it in pursuit of NMD will tip the global balance, trigger a new arms race and jeopardize world and regional stability. The relative balance of forces among major powers in the world and the global strategic stability based thereon represent the precondition for nuclear disarmament, the director said. He pointed out that if such balance and stability were shattered, the nuclear disarmament process would come to a grind or even be reversed. According to him, nuclear disarmament constitutes the prerequisite for non-nuclear states to honor their commitment to stay that way. Amending the ABM Treaty will legitimize the development and deployment of anti-ballistic missile systems. If such attempts were to prevail, the prerequisite and basis for nuclear disarmament would no longer exist. Under such circumstances, who can guarantee that other non-nuclear states will not go nuclear, he asked. 8. Japanese Nuclear Industry China Daily ("NUCLEAR FEARS CAUSE DELAY," 11/19/99, A11) reported that Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc. (TEPCO) has postponed plans to use recycled plutonium-uranium fuel at one of its plants because of public fears. TEPCO, the world's biggest power company, said it would delay for a year its plan to burn mixed plutonium-uranium oxide fuel at a plant in Kashiwasaki, 240 kilometers north of Tokyo. 1. RF Maritime Policy Nezavisimaia Gazeta ("PREMIER REQUESTED MARITIME POLICY PROPOSALS", Moscow, 11/18/99, Pg. 1) reported that RF Premier Vladimir Putin assigned RF top naval commanders with a task to prepare proposals on RF maritime policy in order to adopt it at the highest level "as soon as possible. " Putin said he fully supported the opinion of the Navy that the RF needed its own maritime policy and the document was "to define precisely the state interests on rivers, seas and oceans". 2. PRC Spaceship Launch Nezavisimaia Gazeta (Andrey Vaganov, "CHINESE 'DIVINE SHIP' REACHED THE OUTER SPACE", Moscow, 2, 11/23/99) reported that on November 21 the PRC launched its first space ship into outer space. The unmanned "Shenchou" ("Divine Ship") space station was brought into the Earth's orbit in 10 minutes by a new carrier missile adopted in 1996 and flew around the planet for 21 hours, landing in Inner Mongolia on the morning of November 22. Experts believe the PRC will undertake one or two more unmanned launching before sending a man on board. The author regretted that a PRC space ship contact with the RF "Mir" space station seems impossible, as the station is too exhausted and there is apparently no way to save it. Probably, the PRC was that anonymous party that not long ago offered about US$1 billion to RF space managers to keep the station in the orbit. Two PRC citizens underwent training at the RF space pilot training center near Moscow. The PRC bought from "Energia" Russian Space Corporation numerous space equipment items including a new APAS space-contact block, exactly the same as the one mounted on "Mir." 3. RF Energy Exports to East Asia NG Politekonomia - Nezavisimaia gazeta Supplement (Aleksey Bayandin, "CHINA LOOKS AT THE FAR EASTERN NATURAL GAS PRICES", Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 14, 11/23/99, # 17) reported that Sakhalin Region Governor Igor Farkhutdinov recently attended the annual PRC conference on "Chinese Oil and Natural Gas Markets" and met with representatives of the PRC's largest oil and natural gas corporations and the administration of Guangdong Province, where construction of imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) reception terminals is to start next year. Also, construction of a natural gas liquefying plant in South Sakhalin, the first ever in the RF, is to be started next year. Natural gas from Sakhalin might look attractive to the PRC, the ROK and Japan due to its proximity. Efforts have been taken to have a full-scale extraction of oil and gas in Sakhalin and have it operational by 2005. Extractable resources are estimated at 1 billion tons of oil and 3 trillion cubic meters of gas. In September 1999, the first shipment of 80 tons of crude oil went from Sakhalin to the ROK. 4. RF-Japanese Relations Segodnya ("FIGHT FOR THE KURILS WITH WOODEN SWORDS", Moscow, 11/17/99, Pg.3) reported that Japanese ex-Premier Ryutaro Hashimoto, on an informal visit to the RF in November 17, took part in the Russian wooden sword fencing championship. A rumor said that unofficial reason for his visit is to try accelerating RF President Boris Yeltsin's visit to Japan in order to solve RF-Japan territorial disputes and sign the RF-Japanese peace treaty. The Izvestia's ("23 MINUTES OF HIGH POLITICS", Moscow, 11/18/99, Pg.4) reported that before leaving for Tokyo, Japanese ex-Premier Ryutaro Hashimoto, who was on an informal visit to the RF, had a phone conversation with RF President Boris Yeltsin. Informed people argue that were it not for Istanbul "the friends would have had a meeting" in Moscow. Japan has been constantly reminding Moscow about its wish to solve the South Kurils issue before the next century. In late November, 50 Russian military officers are to make a visit to Japan, the first ever such visit. Segodnya ("BORIS YELTSIN IS NOT TO GO TO JAPAN THIS YEAR", Moscow, 11/18/99, Pg.4) reported that RF President Boris Yeltsin said on November 17 that he was not going on a visit to Japan this year. Reports about his forthcoming visit kept appearing recently, but no certain date was established. 5. DPRK Expels US Citizen Nezavisimaia Gazeta ("PYONGYANG EXPELLED AN AMERICAN", Moscow, 6, 11/20/99) reported that on November 19 So Sung-dok, an US citizen of Korean descent, was expelled form the DPRK. According to DPRK authorities, he pretended to be an investor, but then was "caught red- handed" while spying on DPRK military secrets. He would have been punished, but "Washington asked Pyongyang for clemency".
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