Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)


October 2003 South Korea Special Weapons News



  • Overview of Intra-Korean Exchanges & Cooperation for Oct 2003 ROK Ministry of Unification
  • Mobile Exercises of S. Korean Army Unit Washington File 30 Oct 2003 -- It was announced that the "Lightning" unit of the south Korean army would launch mobile exercises in Inchon and Puchon, Kyonggi Province, between October 28 and 30, according to south Korean KBS.
  • S. Korean Army Commits Grave Military Provocations KCNA 30 Oct 2003 -- The south Korean army recently continued to infiltrate its combat ships into the territorial waters of the north side in the West Sea, rendering the situation in the waters extremely tense, according to military sources.
  • Inter-Korean Economic Talks to Pyongyang in Nov. Korea-net 29 Oct 2003 -- The fifth Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee meeting will be held on Nov. 5 for four days in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, government officials in Seoul said on Tuesday (Oct. 28).
  • North-South Working Contacts Made KCNA 29 Oct 2003 -- The 7th working contacts for reconnecting rail and road links between the north and south of Korea were held in Kaesong on Oct. 27 and 28.
  • Seoul Welcomes NK's Hint to Accept US Proposal Korea-net 27 Oct 2003 -- South Korea on Saturday (Oct. 25) welcomed North Korea's expression of willingness to consider U.S. President George W. Bush's earlier offer of a multilateral written security guarantee to end the nuclear tension on the Korean Peninsula.
  • "Agreement" on Transfer of U.S. Military Base Concluded under Coercion KCNA 27 Oct 2003 -- It was brought to light that the United States illegally concluded the "Agreement on the Transfer of the U.S. Army Base in Ryongsan" in 1990 and, after that, deliberately put pressure on the south Korean "government" to "legalize" it.
  • Withdrawal of Decision on Additional Troop Dispatch to Iraq Demanded KCNA 27 Oct 2003 -- The south Korean authorities should cogitate about the grave consequences to be entailed by their traitorous decision on additional troop dispatch to Iraq and unconditionally withdraw the improper anti-national decision, says Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary.
  • N. Korean Delegation Arrives for Peace Festival Korea-net 24 Oct 2003 -- The North Korean delegation for the Korea Peace Festival, the first civil-organized event involving the two Koreas, arrived in Jeju Island on Thursday (Oct. 23) to a warm welcome from residents of the scenic resort island.
  • Withdrawal of Decision on Troop Dispatch to Iraq Called for KCNA 24 Oct 2003 -- Minju Joson today in a signed commentary demands the south Korean authorities immediately withdraw the anti-national decision on additional troop dispatch to Iraq.
  • KCNA Raps S. Korea's Decision to Additionally Dispatch Troops to Iraq KCNA 24 Oct 2003 -- The south Korean authorities on Oct. 18 formally decided to additionally send troops to Iraq at the meeting of the "National Security Council" and submit the motion calling for the troop dispatch to the "National Assembly".
  • "The Threat of WMD and the Security of the Korean Peninsula" US Embassy, ROK 23 Oct 2003 -- Keynote Address to Hwarangdae International Symposium by US Ambassador Thomas C. Hubbard
  • S. Korean Authorities' Treachery Flailed KCNA 23 Oct 2003 -- Rodong Sinmun today in a signed commentary brands the decision made by the south Korean authorities to additionally dispatch troops to Iraq as a product of the U.S. persistent pressure and as anti-national and anti-peace moves of pro-U.S. forces.
  • ROK, Russia Agree to Draw NK Back to Talks Korea-net 22 Oct 2003 -- South Korea and Russia agreed on Tuesday to closely cooperate to restart at an early date the suspended six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear row.
  • Decision to Additionally Dispatch Troops to Iraq Assailed KCNA 22 Oct 2003 -- A spokesman for the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League in a statement today branded south Korea's decision to additionally dispatch troops to Iraq as a pro-U.S. submissive act of leaving young south Koreans to the tender mercy of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces as their bullet shields to please the U.S., utterly indifferent to the nation's dignity and interests, and an unpardonable crime against it.
  • APEC Leaders Focus on NK Nuke Talks Korea-net 22 Oct 2003 -- Leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which wrapped up its two-day summit session on Tuesday joined forces in pressuring the reclusive North Korea to the negotiating table at an early date.
  • Red Cross to Provide North Korea with 100,000 tons of Fertilizer ROK Ministry of Unification 21 Oct 2003 -- The Korean National Red Cross announced on Saturday (Oct. 18) that it plans to provide 100,000 tons of fertilizer to North Korea.
  • Joint Press Release Following 12th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks - Pyongyang ( October 17, 2003 ) ROK Ministry of Unification 21 Oct 2003 -- Joint Press Release following the 12th inter-Korean ministerial Talks
  • U.S., Republic of Korea Outline Areas of Agreement Washington File 20 Oct 2003 -- In a joint statement released October 20, President George Bush and Republic of Korea President Roh Moo-hyun outlined areas of agreement between their two countries, including issues such as Iraq and North Korea.
  • Roh Left for Bangkok APEC Meeting Korea-net 20 Oct 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun left on Sunday for summit talks in Bangkok at the two-day annual conference of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum which begins on Monday.
  • Joint Press Release of the 3rd Inter-Korean Working-level Contact on Shipping - Munsan ( October 12, 2003) ROK Ministry of Unification 20 Oct 2003 -- South and North Korea held their third working-level contact on shipping cooperation in Munsan (South Korea) on October 11-12.
  • Joint Press Release of the Third Meeting of Inter-Korean Working-level Consultations ROK Ministry of Unification 20 Oct 2003 -- The South and the North held the Third Meeting of their Working-level Consultations on Economic Cooperation Systems in Munsan from October 11 to 12, 2003.
  • North-South Broadcasters' Seminar Held KCNA 20 Oct 2003 -- A north-south broadcasters' seminar was held at the People's Palace of Culture on October 18. Present there were officials, journalists, anchorpersons, editors and technicians in the field of broadcasting service in the north and the south and other officials concerned.
  • S. Korean Delegation Leaves KCNA 20 Oct 2003 -- A delegation of the south Korean Doctors Association led by its former President Sin Sang Jin left here today after participating in the 5th Pyongyang Medical Science Symposium of Compatriots at Home and Abroad.
  • GNP Representative Assailed KCNA 20 Oct 2003 -- Choe Pyong Ryol, representative of the Grand National Party, addressing the "National Assembly" session recently, asserted that the "alliance" with the U.S. has served as a "mainstay of peace" on the Korean peninsula and an "important foundation of growth" for the last half a century.
  • South Side's Delegation Leaves KCNA 20 Oct 2003 -- The south side's delegation led by Ro Song Dae, chairman of the south Korean Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee, left here today after participating in the north-south broadcasters' seminar.
  • BUSH SOUTH KOREA VOA 19 Oct 2003 -- President Bush met with South Korea's leader, Monday, in hopes of advancing regional efforts to convince North Korea to give-up its nuclear weapons program. Mr. Bush is in Thailand for the start of an Asian economic summit.
  • CHINA KOREA REFUGEES VOA 20 Oct 2003 -- South Korea has re-opened its consulate in Beijing, after Chinese authorities granted passage to a group of North Korean refugees holed up inside. The refugees were allowed to travel from Beijing to Seoul on Sunday.
  • KOREA / IRAQ TROOPS VOA 18 Oct 2003 -- South Korea is going to send more troops to Iraq and is pledging 200 million dollars in aid to help rebuild the country. The size of the troop deployment and what role the soldiers will play is still unclear.
  • 12th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Close KCNA 18 Oct 2003 -- The 12th North-South Ministerial Talks that were opened in Pyongyang on Oct. 14 were closed on Oct. 17.
  • Koreas Struggle Over NK Nuclear Row Korea-net 17 Oct 2003 -- The two Koreas remained at odds over how to resolve the lingering standoff over the North's nuclear programs at the 12th inter-Korean ministerial talks in this North Korean capital Thursday (Oct. 16).
  • KOREAS TALKS / NUKES VOA 17 Oct 2003 -- South Korea has ended four days of talks in Pyongyang without getting North Korea to agree to hold more multi-party talks on its nuclear weapons program. South Korean officials also dismiss new North Korean threats to publicly show its nuclear deterrent.
  • SOUTH KOREA SCANDAL VOA 16 Oct 2003 -- South Korea's political scandal widened on Thursday, with the arrest President Roh Moo-hyun's former aide. This is the latest setback this month for the embattled president as he faces a crisis of confidence in his eight-month-old leadership.
  • South Side's Delegation Arrives KCNA 16 Oct 2003 -- The south side's delegation headed by Ro Song Dae, chairman of the Radio and TV Broadcasting Committee of south Korea, arrived here on Wednesday to participate in the north-south broadcasters' seminar.
  • 12th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks Open KCNA 16 Oct 2003 -- The 12th North-South Ministerial Talks were opened in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
  • Seoul to Send More Fertilizer to North Korea Korea-net 15 Oct 2003 -- South Korea has decided to provide 100,000 tons of free fertilizer aid worth 30.6 billion won ($26.6 million) to impoverished North Korea, officials in Seoul said on Tuesday (Oct. 14).
  • Koreas Begin 12th Ministerial Talks Korea-net 15 Oct 2003 -- South and North Korea on Tuesday (Oct. 14) started their 12th ministerial talks in Pyongyang to discuss pending issues including the North's nuclear programs, which are seen as the biggest security concern in the region.
  • Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks to Start in Pyongyang Korea-net 14 Oct 2003 -- The 12th Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks will open in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Tuesday (Oct. 14) for a four-day discussion over ways to defuse the row involving the North's nuclear program.
  • KOREAS TALKS VOA 14 Oct 2003 -- North and South Korea have opened their 12th round of ministerial talks in three years - which are again being overshadowed the North Korean nuclear dispute. South Korea says it hopes to press Pyongyang back into multilateral talks on dismantling is nuclear weapons program.
  • SOKOR/POLITICS VOA 14 Oct 2003 -- Opposition politicians are questioning the constitutionality of a national vote of confidence called by President Roh Moo-hyun to gauge public sentiment. The president said Monday that he would step down if he gets low marks from the public in the unprecedented referendum.
  • S. Korea's Humiliating Act under Fire KCNA 14 Oct 2003 -- The Ministry of National Defence of south Korea begged the United States' side to cut down some of costs to be paid by south Korea according to "memoranda" signed in 1990 at the 5th meeting of the "Policy Plan of Future Alliance" held between south Korea and the U.S. in Seoul a few days ago.
  • KCNA Dismisses Reckless Row Kicked up by GNP KCNA 14 Oct 2003 -- The group of the Grand National Party of south Korea is busy with an anti-north campaign, clamouring for an investigation into the case of a social scientist in Germany who visited his hometown.
  • Inter-Korean Panel Meeting Held KCNA 14 Oct 2003 -- The 3rd meeting of the North-South Arrangement-Making Panel for Economic Cooperation took place in Phaju, south Korea on Oct. 11 and 12.
  • Inter-Korean Working Contact Made KCNA 14 Oct 2003 -- The 3rd north-south working contact for marine transport was held in Phaju of south Korea on Oct. 11 and 12.
  • Ra in US to Discuss Troop Dispatch Korea-net 13 Oct 2003 -- Senior Advisor of National Security Ra Jong-yil on Sunday (Oct. 12) left for the United States to discuss troop contributions to U.S. efforts in Iraq and the North Korean nuclear crisis with senior Washington officials.
  • ROH / REFERENDUM VOA 13 Oct 2003 -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has called for an unprecedented referendum on his eight-month old presidency in the face of harsh political and media criticism. The unprecedented vote could take place before the end of the year.
  • SOUTH KOREA CABINET VOA 11 Oct 2003 -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has rejected his cabinet's offer to resign amid a crisis over his leadership. President Roh also has hinted he could step down if a national referendum shows he has lost the confidence of South Korean citizens.
  • U.S. Troop Strength in Korea Can Be Cut, Pace Says AFPS 10 Oct 2003 -- U.S. troop strength in South Korea can be reduced because of technological advances in military art and lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, the nation's No. 2 military officer said here today.
  • SOKOR ROH VOA 10 Oct 2003 -- Korean President Roh Moo-hyun is appealing for the public's support as he tries to govern amid scandals involving his aides and other politicians.
  • South Side's Group Leaves KCNA 10 Oct 2003 -- The south side's group led by Kim Yun Gyu, president of the Hyundai Asan of south Korea, left here today after participating in the opening ceremony of Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Indoor Stadium.
  • Seoul Hopes to Take Nuke Issue to S-N Talks Korea-net 10 Oct 2003 -- South Korea hopes to be able to make strides on the nuclear issue at the ministerial talks with North Korea in Pyongyang next week, Seoul's chief negotiator for the talks said on Thursday (Oct. 9).
  • Roh Optimistic on Six-Way Talks on NK Nukes Korea-net 09 Oct 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun said on Wednesday (Oct. 8) he was confident that the second round of six-way talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis will take place in the near future, pointing out, “South and North Korea and relevant countries share a common conviction for the peaceful settlement of the issue.”
  • CHINA / KOREAS VOA 09 Oct 2003 -- China is criticizing South Korea for closing its consulate in Beijing because it is overloaded with North Korean refugees.
  • Troop Dispatch to Iraq Denounced KCNA 08 Oct 2003 -- From a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the south Korea-U.S. "mutual defence pact" a few days ago, words came that with troop dispatch to Iraq south Korea would "contribute to global peace and security" and "pay off the benefits it received from the U.S. over the past 50 years.
  • S. Korean Group Arrives KCNA 07 Oct 2003 -- A group of south Koreans led by Kim Yun Gyu, president of Hyundai Asan, arrived here today to participate in an opening ceremony of Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Indoor Stadium.
  • ROK Embassy in Bejing Halts Consular Service Korea-Net 07 Oct 2003 -- The South Korean Embassy in Beijing on Monday (Oct. 6) announced a temporary halt to all civil service activities such as visa issuance from Tuesday except for emergency cases due to a recent flood of North Korean defectors who have taken refuge at the embassy compound.
  • Roh Arrives in Bali for ASEAN Summit Korea-Net 07 Oct 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun arrived here Monday (Oct. 6) for an array of summit meetings to discuss regional security and economic issues including the continuing row over the North Korean nuclear issue.
  • Cattle to Accompany Delegation to P'yang Korea-Net 06 Oct 2003 -- A hundred head of cattle will accompany the 1,110-member South Korean delegation as they leave for Pyeongyang on Monday (Oct. 6) to participate in the opening ceremony of a multi-purpose indoor gymnasium built by Hyundai Asan and North Korea.
  • Allies Seek to Verify NK Nuke Claims Korea-Net 04 Oct 2003 -- The government has set about the task of verifying North Korea's latest bombshell claim that it is making nuclear weapons with plutonium extracted from spent fuel rods.
  • NK Talks Big Factor in Troop Dispatch: Roh Korea-Net 02 Oct 2003 -- President Roh Moo-hyun said on Wednesday (Oct. 1) that the nation’s dispatch of combat troops to Iraq would be possible only when peace and stability on the Korean peninsula is certain.
  • US Cautiously Weighing Proposal to NK Korea-Net 02 Oct 2003 -- The United States is cautiously weighing a proposal to North Korea, mulling what it can give to the reclusive nation in return for the latter’s possible surrender of its nuclear ambitions, a senior Seoul official said upon returning from a meeting in Tokyo.
  • ROK Completes Corn Shipment to NK Korea-Net 01 Oct 2003 -- South Korea has completed the shipment of 100,000 tonnes of corn to hunger-stricken North Korea, a Unification Ministry official said on Tuesday (Sept. 30).
  • Allies Discuss Step-by-Step Proposal to NK Korea-Net 01 Oct 2003 -- Senior officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday (Sept. 31) engaged in in-depth discussions on their joint strategy for the next round of six-way talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.