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September 28, 2000

Korean Peninsula

China Russia Missile Issues Nuclear Weapons South Asia
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Korean Peninsula

 

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1. Inter-Korean Railway

A joint statement said the defense ministers of the ROK and the DPRK agreed to ease tensions, work jointly to eliminate the threat of war on the Korean Peninsula, and guarantee the safety of civilians visiting the other side for inter-Korean projects in all fields. ROK Defense Minister Cho Seong-tae and his DPRK counterpart, Kim Il-chol, agreed to hold a working-level military commission meeting early next month to produce details on the inter-Korean railroad project, including the opening of the demilitarized zone along the border so that workers could begin the reconstruction of severed railroad links. According to officials substantive military issues were not broached. The ROK will build a large cargo depot in the southern part of a joint inter-Korean management area in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) for the smooth transportation of inter-Korean cargo. The ROK will also propose that the DPRK use the depot.
"ROK-DPRK Defense Ministers' Talks" (Daily Report, September 27, ROK)
"DPRK-ROK Defense Ministers' Talks" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)
"Inter-Korean Defense Minister Talks" (Daily Report, September 26, US)
"DPRK-ROK Military Contacts" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)
"ROK-DPRK Defense Ministers' Talks" (Daily Report, September 26, ROK)
"DPRK-ROK Cooperation" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)
"Inter-Korean Defense Minister Talks" (Daily Report, September 25, US)
"Inter-Korean Defense Ministers' Talks" (Daily Report, September 25, ROK)
"DPRK-ROK Talks" (Daily Report, September 28, ROK)

 

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2. ROK-DPRK Relations

The DPRK's three- member economic delegation was in the ROK for economic talks and focused on issues of investment guarantee and double taxation avoidance. The DPRK wanted to limit the talks to investment guarantees and the prevention of double taxation. The ROK and the DPRK agreed to set up a joint economic consultation body after the ROK announced 500,000 tons of food aid in a loan to the DPRK. The new economic body will act as the main channel for the two countries to work out concrete measures for various business projects.
"DPRK-ROK Economic relations" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)
"DPRK-ROK Economic Cooperation" (Daily Report, September 26, ROK)
"Inter-Korean Economic Body" (Daily Report, September 28, US)

Asia Times reported that despite the warm feelings caused by the united entrance of the DPRK and ROK during the opening of the Olympics, there is still cause for worry because past rapprochements between them have faltered. The DRPK criticized the ROK on Thursday for what it said were the ROK's attempts to take all of the credit for the recent warming of relations between the two countries.
"Prospects for DPRK-ROK Relations" (Daily Report, September 27, US)
"DPRK-ROK Relations" (Daily Report, September 28, US)

Thomas Hirschfeld, a senior researcher at the Center for Naval Analysis, said reconciliation between the ROK and the DRPK would represent a major strategic shift, one likely to force the reassessment of the roles and missions of US troops in Asia.
"Analysis of DPRK-ROK Rapprochement" (Daily Report, September 28, US)

The ROK urged the DPRK to move faster in helping separated families reunite with their long- lost relatives.
"Reunion of Separated Families" (Daily Report, September 28, US)

 

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3. ROK Food Aid to DPRK

The DPRK government said that at least 1.4 million tons of grain had been lost because of severe drought and typhoons this year. The ROK will offer 500,000 tons of food aid to the DPRK, including 300,000 tons of Thai rice and 200,000 tons of Chinese corn, in the form of a long-term loan.
"DPRK Food Shortage
"Inter-Korean Talks" (Daily Report, September 27, US)
"Food Aid for DPRK" (Daily Report, September 26, US)
"DPRK Food Aid" (Daily Report, September 28, US)

 

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4. KEDO Updates

Chang Sun-sup, chief of an ROK taskforce on the construction of two light-water reactors in the DPRK, was appointed as executive director of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO).
"New KEDO Chief Appointed" (Daily Report, September 27, ROK)

 

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5. DPRK Nuclear Status

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), during its 44th general conference, reiterated its "concern" over the DPRK's nuclear program, noting it cannot conclude whether the DPRK is diverting nuclear materials.
"DPRK Nuclear Status" (Daily Report, September 26, ROK)

 

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6. DPRK Missile Proliferation

According to the British "Daily telegraph," the DPRK delivered to Libya launching devices and several Rodong-1 missiles this summer. The 1000 km missiles can hit Israel, Rome, and Athens. Experts are concerned that Libyan leader Colonel Muamar Quaddafi may equip the warheads with chemical and nuclear weapons.
"DPRK Missiles Cane to Libya" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)

 

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7. DPRK-US Relations

William Perry, the DPRK policy coordinator, resigned on September 25. The US State Department appointed Wendy Sherman to replace Perry. Sherman is known as the right arm of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and she was thought to be the third most influential figure in the State Department.
"William Perry Resigns" (Daily Report, September 26, US)
"New US DPRK Policy Coordinator Appointed" (Daily Report, September 27, ROK)

The DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday that the DPRK called for an early pullout of US troops from the ROK in line with the process of rapprochement on the divided peninsula. The DPRK's official Rodung Shinmun said that the US desire to maintain troops on the peninsula "immoral and sly," given the atmosphere of reconciliation. It is the first time in three months that the previously often used demand has been leveled.
"DPRK View of US Forces in ROK" (Daily Report, September 27, US)
"DPRK Calls for USFK Withdrawal" (Daily Report, September 25, ROK)

 

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8. DPRK-European Relations

The DPRK said that it has proposed opening diplomatic relations with member nations of the European Union. French Foreign Ministry said on September 21 that France will consider modifying its relations with the DPRK on the basis of the development of the human rights situation in the country and commitments on nuclear nonproliferation.
"DPRK-European Relations" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)
"DPRK Asking Europe for Diplomatic Recognition" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)
"French-DPRK Relations" (Daily Report, September 27, US)

DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun arrived in Italy on September 27 for two days of talks with Italian and United Nations officials. Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini proposed to DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun on September 27 that the DPRK and the ROK consider concluding a non-aggression treaty. The two ministers also signed three agreements - on the protection and promotion of investment, economic cooperation, and cultural and scientific cooperation.
"DPRK-Italy Relations" (Daily Report, September 28, US)

 

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9. DPRK-Japan Relations

The DPRK said that it was not interested in opening diplomatic ties with Japan if Japan keeps accusing the DPRK of abducting its citizens. The DPRK official Rodong Sinmun reiterated that the DPRK had nothing to do with kidnapping Japanese citizens and it accused Japan of kidnapping nearly 200,000 Korean women and forcing them into sexual slavery during World War II.
"DPRK-Japan Relations" (Daily Report, September 25, US)

ROK President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori agreed to strive to set up various links and communications between Japan and the DPRK that could lead to a summit between the leaders of the two countries.
"ROK-Japan Talks" (Daily Report, September 25, ROK)

 

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10. DPRK-Canada Relations

An ROK Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry official said the DPRK and Canada are expected to hold negotiations on diplomatic normalization in Beijing.
"DPRK-Canada Talks" (Daily Report, September 26, ROK)

 

 

China

 

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1. Japanese Military

The PRC's China Daily carried a commentary about the Japan's annual white paper on defense released on July 28. Responding to the assertions in the white paper that Japan will step up research on its planned TMD system with the US and that the PRC is posing a threat to Japan's security, the author said that Japan's stance shows that "to become a military giant, it would even dare to go against world opinion."
"Annual Japanese White Paper on Defense" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)

The PRC's China Daily accused Japan of using the PRC's military build-up as a pretext for raising Japan's defense profile and also suggested that Japan was on the verge of taking up nuclear arms despite its longstanding non-nuclear pledge.
"Sino-Japanese Relations" (Daily Report, September 25, US)

 

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2. PRC-US Relations

The PRC's China Daily reported that PRC Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sun Yuxi, responding statements by US Defense Secretary William Cohen, said that strengthening cooperation and promoting mutual trust are the most effective and correct ways to safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
"PRC's View on Military Alliances" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)

The New York Times published an opinion article by US President William Jefferson Clinton, which praised the passage of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) for the PRC. Clinton noted that the passage of the PNTR did not provide a solely economic opportunity to the PRC.
"Clinton on US-China Relations" (Daily Report, September 25, US)

 

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3. Military Hardware

Tests of the 956E destroyer, built by the Saint-Petersburg "Severnaya Verf" Joint Stock Society, have been successfully completed and it is to be delivered to PRC this November. Oboronitelniye Sistemy ["Defense Systems" in Russian] finance industrial group had completed its contract to deliver S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to the PRC.
"RF Naval Deliveries to PRC" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)
"RF Anti-Aircraft Missile Deliveries to PRC" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)

 

 

Russia

 

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1. Russia-Japan Relations

Japan cancelled a visit of 30 officers of its Self-Defense Force to Russia and refused to host a team of RF Defense Ministry representatives who were to visit Japan next week, reportedly because of the spy scandal that erupted a week before.
"RF-Japan Relations Cooling Down" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)

Professor Vladlen Sirotkin, Diplomatic Academy of the RF Foreign Ministry, criticized RF President Vladimir Putin and the RF foreign policy establishment for their failure to counter Japan's territorial claims to the RF with demanded the return of Russian Imperial gold paid by Russian anti-Communist White Guard leaders to Japan for weaponry supplies in 1920.
"RF Scholar of RF-Japanese Relations" (Daily Report, September 27, RF)

 

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2. Russian Sub-Critical Tests

Russian Atomic Energy Minister Yevgeniy Adamov said that sub-critical nuclear weapons testing will continue on Arctic islands despite criticism.
"Russian Sub-Critical Tests" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

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3. Weapons Proliferation

Boris Yatsenko, director of a unit of the Russian governmental DV Efremov Institute of St. Petersburg, said his institute was planning to sell laser equipment to Iran, which he said was solely for "medical, industrial, and scientific purposes." US officials dispute the purpose of the lasers.
"Russian Lasers" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

 

Missile Issues

 

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1. NMD Decision Commentary

Domestic US commentary on US President Bill Clinton's decision to not deploy National Missile Defense at this time includes that from Disarmament Diplomacy, Council for a Livable World, and US Senator Wayne Allard (chairman of the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee).
"NMD Decision" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

Non-US commentary on US President Bill Clinton's decision to not deploy National Missile Defense at this time includes that of Russian and PRC diplomats. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that unless the 1972 ABM Treaty is kept intact, Russia would not proceed with START III nuclear arms reductions negotiations with the US. PRC Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan urged the UN to stop the US from deploying a missile defence system.
"Responses to NMD: Russia, PRC" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)
"PRC's View on NMD" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)
"Russia's View on NMD" (Daily Report, September 27, PRC)

 

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2. US Missile Defense Tests

The Israeli Arrow-2 anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM) defence system successfully tracked and destroyed an incoming Israeli Black Sparrow target missile, the first frontal interception of a target missile by the Arrow-2 system. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization announced that it wants to conduct a multi-week comprehensive ground exercise, designated as Integrated Ground Test-6 (IGT-6), for the National Missile Defense (NMD) system in February 2001.
"US Missile Defense Tests" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

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3. Iran Missile Test

US intelligence officials said Iran had conducted the third test launch of the Shahab-3 medium-range missile but that the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff.
"Iran Missile Test" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

 

Nuclear Weapons

 

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1. US Nuclear Weapons Development

Martin Butcher and Theresa Hitchens stated that US Senate Republicans have passed a measure that directs US weapons labs to begin studies on mini-nukes. They warn that smaller nuclear weapons may be more likely to be used and that other nations cannot take the US pledge to disarm seriously as long as the US continues to develop these weapons.
"US Nuclear Weapons Development" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

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2. India Nuclear Policy

A Strategic Defense Review (SDR) commissioned by the Indian Government identified a need to conduct sub-critical nuclear testing to fully integrate the benefits of the Shakti series of tests carried out in May 1998. The Review also warned that India should ensure that China's nuclear weapons modernization programs do not undermine India's nuclear deterrence.
"Indian Nuclear Programs" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

Indian Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh said India would continue to observe a moratorium on further nuclear tests and would not prevent the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty from coming into force. Indian National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra said India could withdraw the unilateral moratorium on further nuclear testing if its national interests were threatened.
"India Nuclear Policy" (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #36)

 

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3. NATO Nuclear Policy

Commentary by the President of Lawyers Alliance for World Security (LAWS) Ambassador Thomas Graham and LAWS Program Director Leonor Tomero in the August edition of Disarmament Diplomacy, speaks to the upcoming review by NATO of its nuclear doctrine. Two articles by Karel Koster, a project director with the Project on European Nuclear Non-Proliferation Network, also speak to NATO's nuclear policy.
"NATO Nuclear Policy" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

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4. Submarine Issues

The scuttling of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk in August continues to draw media attention. The links below include: additional commentary on the Kursk accident, developments in the UK HMS Tireless nuclear submarine accident, and commentary on the role of submarines in the US fleet.
"Russian Submarine Accident" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)
"UK Submarine Accident" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)
"Italian Sub Concerns" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)
"US Submarine Deployment" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

 

 

South Asia

 

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1. South Asia Missile Development

APJ Abdul Kalam, principal science adviser to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and architect of India's missile program, said that all the technology used to develop the Agni-2 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) was available for an intercontinental weapon. The Agni-2 missile, with a range of more than 2,300 km, was tested in April last year. Jasjit Singh, director of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, said: "The priority should be the development and deployment of a 5,000-km missile as a minimum credible deterrent. At the moment, we have nothing."
"Indian Nuclear Programs" (NPP Flash, V. 2, N. 32)

The Indian government successfully retested the Akash, a surface-to-air missile with a maximum range of 25 km and a ceiling height of 18 km. The Indian Army has placed an order for 124 domestically produced Arjun main battle tanks. Delivery of 40 Russian SU-30MKI warplanes and upgrading of already acquired SU-30MKI and SU30K multi-role fighters would begin next year.
"Military Hardware" (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #36)

Pakistan began serial production of the Shaheen-I terminal guided medium-range missile, which has a range of 600-750 km and can field a nuclear warhead. Pakistan nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan said Pakistan was ready to test the intermediate range ballistic missile Shaheen-II, which may have a range of 2,500 km.
"Missile Development" (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #36)

 

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2. India Naval Diplomacy

The Indian Navy destroyer INS Delhi and corvette INS Kora completed a good-will visit to Shanghai, the first such visit to the PRC since India's nuclear tests, and sailed for a similar good-will visit to Japan.
"Naval Good-will Visits: PRC, Japan" (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #36)

 

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3. India-US Relations

An editorial in the Times of India after Prime Minister AB Vajpayee's visit to the US stated that the US seemed to come to terms with India's possession of a nuclear arsenal while India made none of the concessions that had been expected on Kashmir, talks with Pakistan, or US mediation. US Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Admiral Dennis C Blair, while visiting India, said sanctions by the US against India have affected India-US military-to-military cooperation.
"India-US Relations" (SANDNet Weekly Update, V.1, #36)

 

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The NAPSNet Week in Review aims to serve as a forum for dialogue and exchange among peace and security specialists. We invite you to reply to today's report, and we welcome commentary or papers for distribution to the network.

Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with:
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

Robert Brown, Security Program Assistant:napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Gee Gee Wong, Security Program Assistant: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Hans Kristensen, Security Program Officer: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Timothy L. Savage, Security Program Officer: napsnet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Kim Hee-sun: khs688@hotmail.com
Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hiroyasu Akutsu: akutsu@glocomnet.or.jp
Tokyo, Japan

Peter Razvin: icipu@glas.apc.org
Moscow, Russian Federation

Chunsi Wu: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

Dingli Shen: dlshen@fudan.ac.cn
Shanghai, People's Republic of China

 
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