Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


April 2003 South Korea Special Weapons News



  • The Policy for Peace and Prosperity Ministry of Unification, republic of Korea 2003 -- The Policy for Peace and Prosperity The Policy for Peace and Prosperity is initiated from President Roh Moo-hyun’s strategic vision. It aims to lay the foundation for the peaceful unification of Korea through the promotion of peace on the Korean peninsula and to achieve mutual prosperity for South and North Korea. This policy will also contribute to peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. In particular, it aims to resolve the pressing North Korean nuclear issue peacefully through cooperation with nations with an interest in Korea. [PDF 2.12 Mb]
  • Korean Unification Bulletin (No.54 Apr, 2003) Korea-net
  • Overview of Intra-Korean Exchanges & Cooperation for Apr 2003 ROK Ministry of Unification
  • 10th inter-Korean ministerial talks open KCNA 30 Apr 2003 -- The 10th inter-Korean ministerial talks were held here on Sunday. Present at the talks were members and suites of the north side's delegation led by chief councillor of the DPRK cabinet Kim Ryong Song and the south side's delegation with Minister of Unification Jong Se Hyon as its chief delegate.
  • Koreas Agree to Peacefully Resolve Nuke Row Korea-net 30 Apr 2003 -- South and North Korea agreed to work toward a peaceful resolution of the nuclear crisis based on dialogue at the 10th ministerial talks, which ended early Wednesday (April 30).
  • KOREAS TALKS VOA 29 Apr 2003 -- Negotiators for North and South Korea were struggling late Tuesday to draft a statement wrapping up three days of talks in Pyongyang. The problem appeared to be references to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
  • Osan-Pyeongtaek to Become Hub of USFK ROK Ministry of National Defense 29 Apr 2003 -- A senior ranking U.S. military official said on Friday (April 25) that most of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) will be moved to Osan-Pyeongtaek area in the long term, heightening the possibility that the headquarters of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and the United Nations Command (UNC), currently in Yongsan Garrison, will be moved to the area.
  • ROK, US Analyzing NK's Proposal Korea-net 28 Apr 2003 -- South Korea and the United States have begun analyzing the “new and bold” proposal put forward by North Korea during the recent tripartite talks in Beijing to discuss the festering nuclear standoff, a senior official at the Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry said on Sunday (April 27).
  • Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Kicked off Korea-net 28 Apr 2003 -- South Korea urged North Korea to give up its nuclear development program during the 10th round of inter-Korean ministerial talks which kicked off in this North Korean capital city on Sunday (April 27).
  • S-N Ministerial Talks Locked Over Nukes Korea-net 28 Apr 2003 -- South and North Korea once again engaged in a tug-of-war over the North Korean nuclear issue on day two of the 10th ministerial talks here on Monday (April 28).
  • South side's delegation to tenth inter-Korean ministerial talks here KCNA 28 Apr 2003 -- South side's delegation with minister of unification Jong Se Hyon as chief delegate arrived in Pyongyang today to participate in the 10th north-south ministerial talks.
  • KOREAS TALKS VOA 28 Apr 2003-- North Korea has again evaded questions about its nuclear weapons program at a meeting with South Korean officials, and instead sought more economic aid from Seoul
  • KOREAS TALKS VOA 27 Apr 2003 -- South Korea and North Korea are beginning high-level talks in Pyongyang. Seoul plans to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program, which violates the two countries' pledge to not have nuclear arms.
  • Seoul to Send Food, Other Aids to North Korea Korea-net 25 Apr 2003 -- South Korea is set to send 100,000 tons of corn in humanitarian aid to North Korea via the World Food Program (WFP), a Unification Ministry official said Thursday.
  • Koreas to Open 10th Ministerial Talks Sunday Korea-net 25 Apr 2003 -- South and North Korea are to convene the 10th ministerial talks in Pyongyang on Sunday (April 27), the first high-level talks since the Roh Moo-hyun administration took office on Feb. 25.
  • US to Push Inclusion of ROK, Japan in Nuke Talks Korea-net 22 Apr 2003 -- The tripartite meeting between North Korea, China and the United States to discuss the resolution of the North Korean nuclear weapons program will be held in Beijing, China, on April 23 as planned, a senior Foreign Affairs-Trade Ministry official said on Monday (April 21).
  • Roh Confident of Seoul's Inclusion in Nuke Talks Korea-net 24 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun said on Wednesday (April 23) that the ongoing tripartite meeting among North Korea, the United States and China in Beijing will develop into multilateral dialogue that will include South Korea.
  • Roh, Kim Discuss NK Nuke Row Korea-net 23 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun and former president Kim Dae-jung on Tuesday (April 22) discussed the North Korean nuclear crisis and the special probe into the “cash-for-summit” scandal during a meeting over dinner at Cheong Wa Dae.
  • April 19 declaration issued in S. Korea KCNA 23 Apr 2003 -- The group of chairmen of General Student Councils of 64 Universities of South Korea including Korea University, Kyunghee University, Duksung Women's University and Sogang University held a press conference at Dongguk University on April 19 and issued an "April 19 Declaration" demanding an immediate stop to the U.S. Iraqi war and the withdrawal of the decision on troop dispatch to it, Yonhap News from Seoul said.
  • Departure of advance party of troop dispatch to Iraqi war flailed KCNA 22 Apr 2003 -- The struggle against the U.S. Iraqi war and the authorities' troop dispatch to the war simultaneously under way in different parts of South Korea is entirely a just one as it reflects the firm will of the South Korean people to defend the peace of the country and security of the nation and achieve the independent reunification of the country.
  • Anti-U.S., anti-war committee formed in S. Korea KCNA 21 Apr 2003 -- An inaugural ceremony of the South Korean Committee of Students Struggle Against War, the U.S. and the opening of market and for greeting May Day was reportedly held in Youido, Seoul, on April 12 with many students attending.
  • Anti-U.S. solidarity meeting held in S. Korea KCNA 21 Apr 2003 -- The 43rd anti-U.S. Solidarity Meeting reportedly took place in Seoul on April 15 to demand the withdrawal of the decision to dispatch troops to the Iraqi war and the total revision of the unequal South Korea-U.S. "status of forces agreement" and "mutual defence treaty".
  • Koreas to Hold 10th High-Level Talks in P'yang Korea-net 21 Apr 2003 -- South Korea and North Korea will hold a 10th round of ministerial talks April 27-29 in Pyongyang, the first high-level talks since President Roh Moo-hyun took office Feb. 25.
  • KOREAS TALKS VOA 21 Apr 2003 -- South Korea has accepted a proposal from Pyongyang to hold cabinet-level talks in the North in a week. Those talks will follow a meeting between North Korea and the United States in Beijing. Pyongyang seems to backing away from recent belligerent statements to make sure the meetings go ahead.
  • Seoul Calls for Talks With P'yang Korea-net 19 Apr 2003 -- Following a North Korean request on Thursday for rice and fertilizer, South Korea urged the North on Friday (April 18) to resume inter-Korean dialogue, with the Unification Ministry calling for Pyongyang to resume talks that North Korea canceled last month.
  • Roh Expects S-N Summit After Solving Nuke Row Korea-net 16 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun said on Tuesday (April 15) that South Korea should help prevent North Korea from collapsing, because the Stalinist country may not sustain itself while pushing for economic reform.
  • Gov't Willing to Give NK Fertilizer Aid Korea-net 16 Apr 2003 -- South Korea is willing to provide the North with 200,000 tons of fertilizer on humanitarian grounds if a request comes from Pyongyang, an official at Seoul's Unification Ministry said on Tuesday (April 15).
  • Two Koreas to Hold Sports Meet in July Korea-net 15 Apr 2003 -- South and North Korea agreed to hold a joint sports event to strengthen ties in the inter-cultural exchange on Jeju Island in July.
  • Seoul Urges US, NK to Resume Dialogue Korea-net 15 Apr 2003 -- South Korea on Monday (April 14) called on the United States and North Korea to begin talks at an early date, as Pyongyang has indicated it may accept the U.S.-initiated dialogue format to discuss the resolution of the standoff over its nuclear programs.
  • Roh Engages in Sale Pitch for His Peace Plan Korea-net 15 Apr 2003 -- Ahead of his May 15 summit with U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington, President Roh Moo-hyun is building his case for a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear row.
  • Roh Vows Close Cooperation With US on NK Nuke Korea-net 14 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun said on Sunday (April 13) that South Korea will cooperate closely with the United States and other relevant nations to resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons program in a peaceful way through dialogue.
  • US Investors Oppose Pullout of Troops Korea-net 12 Apr 2003 -- American businesspeople in South Korea urged Washington to maintain the U.S. troops presence on the peninsula for regional security, as well as global market stability.
  • S. Korean students vow anti-U.S. resistance KCNA 12 Apr 2003 -- The south headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country's Reunification Tuesday in a statement declared that youth and students would turn out in a nation-wide movement to oppose the United States and war and urge the U.S. to conclude a non-aggression treaty with North Korea and withdraw its troops from South Korea in the spirit of the April 3 Jeju islanders' popular uprising in order to take the lead in defending the dignity and right to existence of the nation.
  • Roh, Bush Will Hold Summit on May 15 Korea-net 10 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun will hold his first summit with U.S. President George W. Bush on May 15 (Korean standard time) in Washington, D.C., Cheong Wa Dae said on Wednesday (April 9).
  • 'Agreement on 2nd Inter-Korean Summit Valid' Korea-net 09 Apr 2003 -- Prime Minister Goh Kun said on Tuesday (April 8) that the second inter-Korean summit has already been agreed on and Roh Moo-hyun administration believes the deal still holds good.
  • Seoul Seeks Prosperity in Northeast Asia: Roh Korea-net 09 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun said on Tuesday (April 8) that South Korea will compete and cooperate with its neighbors for the prosperity of Northeast Asia, and to become a regional financial and research center.
  • Bush to Meet South Korean President Roh at White House May 14 Washington File 09 Apr 2003 -- Following is the text of a press release issued April 9 by the White House press secretary announcing a scheduled May 14 meeting between President Bush and South Korean President Roh
  • SOKOR U-S VOA 09 Apr 2003-- The United States and South Korea have agreed to move a large U-S military facility out of Seoul as soon as possible
  • Gov't Regrets NK's Cancellation of Talks Korea-net 08 Apr 2003 -- The government on Monday (April 7) expressed regret over North Korea's cancellation of the 10th ministerial talks that were to open in Pyongyang the same day.
  • Roh, Bush Confirm Peaceful Resolution of NK Row Korea-net 07 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. President George W. Bush re-confirmed on Friday (April 4) their intention to work out the international standoff over North Korea's nuclear development program peacefully, Roh's spokeswoman Song Kyoung-hee said Sunday (April 6).
  • KOREAS-TALKS VOA 07 Apr 2003 -- Talks between North and South Korea, scheduled to begin on Monday, have been scrapped. Seoul says it did not receive confirmation from Pyongyang that the meetings to discuss North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons would take place.
  • Roh Chides NK for Lack of Sincerity in Dialogue Korea-net 04 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday (April 3) urged North Korea to positively engage in inter-Korean talks, dismissing Pyongyang's claim that an ongoing South Korea-U.S. military exercise is part of preparations for an invasion.
  • BUSH/NOKOR VOA 04 Apr 2003 -- President Bush telephoned South Korean leader Roh Moo-Hyun Friday to discuss the war in Iraq and the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
  • KOREAS / TALKS VOA 04 Apr 2003 -- Concerns are growing in Seoul that proposed talks with North Korea, set for next week in Pyonyang, will be canceled because the North is protesting Seoul's support for the US-led war in Iraq. The Seoul government hopes to use the discussions to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
  • Assembly Endorses Troop Dispatch to Iraq Korea-net 03 Apr 2003 -- The National Assembly on Wednesday (April 2) approved the dispatch of 700 non-combatant troops in support of the US-led war in Iraq, voting 179 to 68 in favour of the motion with nine abstentions.
  • Gov't Denies Report on Gas Provision to NK Korea-net 02 Apr 2003 -- The government on Tuesday (April 1) denied reports that Seoul proposed a plan to provide gas produced in Siberia or Sakhalin in Russia to North Korea as a means of resolving the standoff over the North's nuclear weapons program.
  • Ra in Beijing for Talks on NK Nuclear Row Korea-net 02 Apr 2003 -- Ra Jong-yil, senior presidential adviser on national security, arrived in Beijing Wednesday for talks with Chinese officials to seek a peaceful solution to the standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear program, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
  • Roh Appeals to Nation to Support Troop Dispatch Korea-net 02 Apr 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday (April 2) appealed to the nation to back his troop dispatch plan, saying support for the United States is essential to resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.
  • SOKOR/CHINA VOA 02 Apr 2003 -- A South Korean presidential envoy is in Beijing for talks on convincing North Korea to ends its alleged nuclear weapons program. Ra Jong-yil arrived in Beijing from Moscow, where he discussed the dispute with Russian officials.
  • Gov't Urges US to Talk Directly With NK Korea-net 01 Apr 2003 -- The government has urged the Untied States to clarify its willingness to directly talk with North Korean to resolve the current standoff over the reclusive nation's nuclear development program, Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Yoon Young-kwan said on Monday (March 31).
  • RUSSIA/NOKOR VOA 01 Apr 2003 -- The top security adviser to South Korea's president is wrapping up a two-day visit to Moscow aimed at reviving efforts to find a solution to the standoff over North Korea's nuclear program. Russian officials believe the answer to the dispute lies in direct negotiations.
  • LIMITED RSOI/FE 03 ASSETS TO TEMPORARILY REMAIN IN REPUBLIC OF KOREA US Forces Korea News Release 01 Apr 2003-- In agreement with the ROK Government, U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea selected a limited number of forces, including personnel and equipment, to remain in the Republic of Korea after the conclusion of RSOI/FE 03. The primary purpose of this decision is to extend familiarization training.