Overview

As predicted in earlier issues, US relations with Korea, or rather both Koreas, have worsened. Although overshadowed by confrontation with Russia (expulsion of diplomats) and China (spy plane incident) US policy towards the Korean peninsula, whilst still under review in Washington, seems set to undo much of the progress of recent years.

Despite all the forward planning, and preliminary visits by Foreign Minister Lee Joung-binn and Lim Dong-won, director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and his key handler of North Korean affairs, for meetings with Secretary of State Colin Powell, CIA director George Tenet, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, the summit between Kim Dae-jung and President Bush was not a success. Not merely were the Koreans affronted by discourtesies but it was made clear that the new US administration intended taking a more confrontational line with the DPRK and were not going to be swayed by Kim Dae-jung’s arguments. In particular, the expression of ‘scepticism’ towards Kim Jong Il and the refusal to continue negotiations, was a direct rebuff to the ‘sunshine policy.

Kim Dae-jung returned home to much criticism and reshuffled his cabinet – replacing Lee Joung-binn with former ambassador to Washington Han Seung-soo and making Lim Dong-won Unification Minister. Exchanges with the North, whilst continuing (for instance mail was exchanged for the first time in 51 years) , have slowed down. In particular, the last-minute cancellation of Ministerial talks was widely interpreted as expressing concern about Kim’s failure to ameliorate US policy. Whether the cancellation, and the continuing uncertainty about Kim Jong Il’s return visit to Seoul, is a productive way for Pyongyang to respond is debatable. It may have more to do with domestic policies in Pyongyang. Although Kim Jong Il is usually thought of as being in undisputed control this is unlikely to be the case. The continued moves to reform and open the economy, and to normalise relations with former enemies, must be balanced with a public display of resistance to US bullying. There has been a veritable explosion of articles condemning the US policy.

Worried by the more confrontational US policy and the deterioration in the situation, the EU under Swedish presidency, has taken a more active role. Pyongyang, for its part, has continued its diplomatic offensive and has made a number of concessions, especially to Germany which has promised 30,000 tonnes of culled (but theoretically BSE-free) beef. Australia is set to receive Foreign Minister Paek, reciprocating Downer’s visit to Pyongyang last year.

And New Zealand slipped in between Brazil and Kuwait in establishing diplomatic relations with the DPRK on 26 March 2001. Whether we will follow the example of Australia, Britain and Germany, amongst others, to actively develop the relationship and contribute to the faltering peace process is as yet unclear.

Tim Beal

US-ROK-DPRK Relations

Opposition Irked by Powell's Breach of Protocol

The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) yesterday criticized U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell for breaching normal diplomatic protocol during Wednesday's summit between Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Bush in Washington.

Pointing out that Powell gave a press briefing while the summit was still going on, GNP spokesman Kwon Chul-hyun said that the opposition party felt it was an insult to the nation.

According to the spokesman, Powell, though the summit was not finished, told reporters that the U.S won't resume missile talks with North Korea for the time being, saying Bush forcefully made the point to the South Korean President.

A vice House speaker from the opposition camp also took issue with President Bush's reference to President Kim as ``this man'' in their post- summit press conference.

Rep. Hong Sa-duck of the GNP demanded in an open letter that Bush explain why he used such a casual expression in the formal function, alleging that the derogatory reference may hurt the pride of the Korean people…/..

Source Korea Times 9 March 2001

Kim's Foreign Policy Team Under Fire for Poor Summit Performance

In the middle of the summit between President Kim Dae-jung and U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington on March 7, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell slipped out of the conference room and told the waiting U.S. media that North Korea was a threat.

President Bush told the Korean and U.S. press in a post-summit briefing, ``I have some skepticism about the North Korean leader,'' adding that he would not immediately resume dialogue with Pyongyang on its missile program. Standing near President Kim was his chief foreign affairs advisor Kim Ha-joong, who wore grim looks throughout the 30-minute press conference.

The U.S. media exploded with reports that Seoul and Washington were off to a shaky start on their joint approach toward Pyongyang.

The Korean media, struggling with a time difference of 14 hours between Seoul and Washington, stumbled, caught off guard because they had not been prepared. Seoul's foreign policy team gave reporters only a rosy prospect of what would happen in Washington before departing for the U.S. ..//..

Korea Times 12 March 2001

Rogue states of America

Why Bush needs the bad guys

US presidents have always had a penchant for bogeymen. Such personifications of evil make a complex world easier to explain to American voters, and they provide moral underpinning for actions subsequently taken in pursuit of US interests. ../..Top of Mr Bush's list are North Korea, Iran, Libya and, of course, Iraq.

Rogue nations, it is already clear, are the cornerstone of Mr Bush's otherwise still unstable foreign and security edifice. On their shifty shoulders rests the entire raison d' tre of national missile defence (NMD). Dubya may have little or no idea what to do about Ariel Sharon or Japan's economic crisis, but he is absolutely certain of one thing: those missiles are essential to deter the rogues. The distorting effect of this puerile thinking was on display in Washington last week when, to secretary of state Colin Powell's evident discomfiture, Mr Bush told South Korea's President Kim Dae-jung he was ending the policy of engagement and negotiation with the Pyongyang regime pursued by Bill Clinton.

Even though Mr Kim, a key US ally, is desperate to advance the dialogue begun at last year's historic summit with Kim Jong-il, and even though the future of the deprived, half-starved northern population depends on his success, Mr Bush said bluntly he did not trust North Korea and effectively pulled the plug on détente. Pyongyang now warns that it may be forced to resume building nukes and missiles. To which Mr Bush and his hawkish advisers smilingly reply: all the more reason to build NMD!

There is a cynical pattern to be discerned here. ../... Britain and many EU countries are working hard to develop links with North Korea, Iran and Libya. Most also now agree that endless, thoughtless ostracism of the Iraqi nation is no longer a viable policy. So why not stop posturing and start talking? Because Mr Bush wants his missiles. And to get his missiles, the president needs rogues.

Source: The Guardian 12 March 2001

U.S. moves against Korean reunification assailed

Pyongyang, March 28 (KCNA) -- The Bush administration is intentionally letting loose a spate of adventurous remarks, getting on the nerves of the DPRK and hurting its feelings in a bid to block the movement for Korean reunification. In this regard Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary says:

The U.S. ruling quarters are talking about a "hardline," raising silly questions as to the DPRK. This cannot be construed otherwise than a premeditated move to realise their ambition to dominate the whole of Korea.

They seek to hold up the process for reconciliation and reunification on the Korean peninsula by pursuing a hardline policy towards the DPRK and strain the situation there again in a bid to carry out their strategy to invade it. This is a vicious challenge to and anachronistic provocation against the desire of the Korean nation for reunification.

What the Bush administration should do as regards the Korean issue is to honestly implement the DPRK-U.S. agreed framework, withdraw its aggressor forces from South Korea and take its hands off the Korean issue.

The U.S. reactionary conservatives' moves against the DPRK and reunification have put into a danger Korea's reunification and the security of the nation.

The U.S. imperialists' moves to stop the process for reconciliation and reunification of the Korean nation under the absurd pretext of "threat" from the DPRK should be checked.

If the U.S. imperialists are allowed to keep Korea divided into two parts forever and seek their interests in it, the Korean nation will never achieve the reunification of the country nor escape from serious disasters.

Source: Korean Central News Agency 28 March 2001

NZ and DPRK establish diplomatic relations

Pyongyang, March 26 (KCNA) -- A press statement was released today on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and New Zealand. The statement reads:

Being desirous of developing friendly and cooperative relations on the principles of mutual respects for sovereignty, non-interference in the other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefits, the DPRK government has decided to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with New Zealand as from March 26, 2001.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will contribute to the deepening of the mutual understanding and trusts of the two countries and peoples as well as to the development of bilateral relations in all fields.

Source: Korean Central News Agency 26 March 2001

DPRK diplomatic Relations

Diplomatic relations has been established with the following countries since the beginning of 2000. Australia, and probably Kuwait, were re-establishment of relations which had fallen into abeyance.

DPRK now has diplomatic links with over 150 countries, though many of those relationships must be inactive. A full list is available at

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~caplabtb/dprk/Dip_Rels.htm

Kuwait	6-Apr-01
New Zealand	26-Mar-01
Brazil	9-Mar-01
Greece	8-Mar-01
Luxembourg	6-Mar-01
Germany	1-Mar-01
Spain	7-Feb-01
Canada	6-Feb-01
Belgium	23-Jan-01
Netherlands	15-Jan-01
Britain	12-Dec-00
Philippines	12-Jul-00
Australia	8-May-00
Italy	4-Jan-00

Tricky twist to Australia-N Korea thaw

Australia will be caught up in a deepening diplomatic stand-off between the United States and North Korea with the North planning to send its foreign minister to visit Canberra in May. ../..

The North Korean Foreign Minister, Mr Paek Nam-sun, would be honouring an invitation extended to him by his Australian counterpart, Mr Downer, during a ground-breaking visit to Pyongyang late last year.../..

While it would confirm the improving ties between Australia and North Korea after a 25-year diplomatic freeze, it comes as concern and confusion mount on the Korean peninsula over Washington's policy change.../..

It is understood the Paek visit was flagged by a North Korean foreign affairs and trade delegation during talks in Canberra last month.

Australia has been at the forefront of the international rush to establish links with Pyongyang, resuming diplomatic relations last May. Since then other nations, particularly in Europe, have queued to do the same, fearing they may be left without influence in the rapidly changing Korean peninsula.

Australia has worked to capitalise on its early start, with an energy trade mission visiting North Korea late last year and a number of other missions planned for coming months.

While initial talk has been on basic commercial ventures in areas like mining, energy production and agriculture, North Korea has also expressed an interest in more diverse fields, such as architecture.../..

South Korea is now worried that Washington's hardline stance will imperil its engagement policy.../..

Anti-US sentiment has flared again in Seoul, amid fears Mr Kim may suspend or cancel a historic first trip to South Korea in the first half of the year.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald 30 March 2001

Premier Hong Song Nam’s Report

On 2000 work and 2001 tasks of DPRK cabinet

Premier Hong Song Nam delivered this report at the fourth session of the tenth Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK which was held in Pyongyang today. (extracts)

The main thrust of economic construction this year is to make sustained efforts to equip the national economy as a whole with uptodate technology, while readjusting the present economic foundations and increasing its might to the maximum.

In order to pep up the national economy as early as possible it is imperative to concentrate efforts on upgrading power, coal and metal industries and railway transport.

At the same time, a high-pitched drive should be waged to boost production in chemical and building-material industries, forestry and all other sectors.

The technological modernization of the national economy is a main link in the chain of the economic work at present.

The cabinet will steadily carry out the work of updating the national economy as a whole with the latest technology to meet the requirements of the new century.

Machine-building industry should produce many uptodate machines and equipment fitted with latest electronic technology for technological modernization.

State investment will be increased in science and technology and the exchange of science and technology with other countries and their information strengthened.

The most urgent task facing the cabinet this year is to improve the standard of the people's living.

Every effort should be exerted to develop agriculture to resolve the food problem of the people. ..//..

The production of meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits and industrial crops should be boosted.

This year, too, sustained great efforts should be directed to light industry to satisfactorily meet the demand for consumption goods.

Foreign trade should be developed, solid exports production bases built up to decisively expand the export of goods.

Many dwelling houses with amenities of modern life and holiday and rest homes and sanatoria will be built to bring more social benefits to people.

The cabinet will improve the management and operation of the socialist economy our own way in keeping with the changed environment and conditions.

All the sectors and units of the national economy should thoroughly meet the demands of the taean work system, properly combine the state centralized uniform guidance with the creative ingenuity of lower units in economic management and strictly apply the socialist principle of distribution so that everyone can work to his best ability and get paid according to the work done. ..//..

Independence, peace and friendship are the basic idea of the DPRK foreign policy and the principle of its external activities.

The DPRK will expand and develop relations with all those countries which are friendly to our country in all fields on the principle of complete equality, independence, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs and reciprocity, and actively cooperate with international organisations in their work.

Source: Korean Central News Agency 5 April 2001