Korean Unification Bulletin ( No.55 May, 2003)
R.O.K- U.S. Summit Meeting President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea and U.S. President George W. Bush issued a joint statement following their summit meeting on May 14 at the White House. The two leaders confirmed their position that the North Korean nuclear issue should, in principle, be resolved peacefully and the relocation of U.S. troops in Korea would be carried out in a prudent manner. They also had close consultations on many pending issues between the two countries. President Roh focused his activities in the United States on such important areas as the North Korean nuclear issue and the ROK-U.S. alliance, as well as trade and investment. His ¡°pragmatic diplomacy¡±produced a number of significant achievements. The two presidents in their first meeting forged mutual trust and friendship through serious and frank talks, and they explained their exchange of views at an unscheduled press briefing after the talks. Followings are excerpts from the Joint Statement Between the Republic of Korea and the United States - Common Values, Principles, and Strategy. < The U.S.-ROK Alliance > President Roh and President Bush welcomed the fiftieth anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance and paid tribute to those who have contributed to thealliance, particularly the Korean host communities and the members of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) who have devoted themselves to the defense of peace and freedom on the peninsula. President Bush reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a robust forward presence on the peninsula and in the Asia- Pacific region. The two leaders pledged to work closely together to modernize the U.S.-ROK alliance, taking advantage of technology to transform both nations forces and enhance their capabilities to meet emerging threats. In the context of modernizing the alliance, the two leaders agreed to work out plans to consolidate U.S. forces around key hubs and to relocate the Yongsan garrison at an early date. President Bush pledged to consult closely with President Roh on the appropriate posture for USFK during the transition to a more capable and sustainable U.S. military presence on the peninsula. They shared the view that the relocation of U.S. bases north of the Han River should be pursued, taking careful account of the political, economic and security situation on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia. The two leaders also noted the opportunity provided by the Republic of Korea's growing national strength to continue expanding the role of the ROK armed forces in defending the Korean Peninsula. President Bush and President Roh welcomed the growing bilateral U.S.-ROK cooperation on international security challenges beyond the Korean Peninsula.President Bush thanked President Roh for his support on Iraq and welcomed the Republic of Korea's decision to deploy medical and construction units and undertake other efforts to assist with post-conflict humanitarian assistance and reconstruction in Iraq. President Roh expressed his support for U.S. and international efforts to establish lasting peace and security in the Middle East. The two leaders also reviewed progress and cooperation in the war on terror, noting the contribution of ROK forces to Operation Enduring Freedom and Afghan recons-truction. To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the alliance, the two Presidents welcomed the convening of forums of experts to conduct discussions on the future of U.S.-ROK relations and to generate fresh ideas for both governments. < North Korea > President Bush and President Roh reaffirmed that they will not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea. They noted with serious concern North Korea's statements about reprocessing, possession of nuclear weapons, and its threat to demonstrate or transfer these weapons. They stressed that escalatory moves by North Korea will only lead to its greater isolation and a more desperate situation in the North. Both leaders reiterated their strong commitment to work for the complete, verifiable and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons program through peaceful means based on international cooperation. They welcomed the role played by China at the April 23-25 trilateral talks in Beijing. They agreed that the Republic of Korea and Japan are essential for a successful and comprehensive settlement and that Russia and other nations can also play a constructive role in multilateral diplomacy. While noting that increased threats to peace and stability on the peninsula would require consideration of further steps, they expressed confidence that a peaceful resolution can be achieved. Noting that the United States and the Republic of Korea are the two leading donors of humanitarian food assistance to North Korea, the two Presidents reaffirmed that humanitarian assistance is provided without linkage to political developments and noted the need to ensure that the assistance goes to those in need. President Bush stressed that North Korea's nuclear programs stand in the way of the bold approach and the ability of the international community to consider comprehensive steps to assist the many needs of the North Korean people. President Roh outlined his Peace and Prosperity Policy and President Bush reiterated his support for the process of South-North reconciliation. President Bush noted that the Republic of Korea has used this dialogue channel to call upon the North to resolve the nuclear issue. President Roh stated that future inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation will be conducted in light of developments on the North Korean nuclear issue. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination between the U.S. and ROK governments on this issue as well as in trilateral consultations with Japan.
The 5th Meeting of the Inter-Korean Economic The fifth meeting of the South-North Economic Cooperation Promotion Committee was held in Pyongyang from May 19 to May 23, 2003. South and North Korea issued a seven-point agreement on ways of implementing major inter-Korean economic cooperation projects and the schedule for their implementation. ¡á Main Points of Agreement A. Reconnection of Railways and Roads Agreement to hold ceremonies to mark cross-border connections means that South and North Korea are a step nearer to opening the inter-Korean traffic since the ground-breaking ceremony in September 2002. It also reaffirms the willingness to complete the connection work at an early date. The ceremony will be a modest, working-level event as agreed during the fourth working-level contact (March 10-12). Working-level personnel will discuss details concerning the matter of delivery of materials and equipment and on-site surveys for signals, communication, electricity and designs. B. Construction of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex Holding a ground-breaking ceremony for the complex will mean the consummation of various tasks that have been under discussion since last year by the authorities and private project partners of the two Koreas. The project partners were nearing agreement on the ceremony at the end of April when they discussed the matter April 14-16, but the outbreak of the SARS virus has caused a delay. The ground-breaking ceremony will be symbolic at working-levels and the work is preparatory in nature, like working-level on-site surveys. Following the ground-breaking ceremony, work will be implemented in stages. Even before the ground-breaking ceremony, schedules will be carried out for the proclamation of the five lower-level regulations and a discussion on other regulations and on-site surveys. The two sides agreed to positively cooperate in deciding on the terms of land rentals and in removing various obstructions on the land to improve the competitive value of the industrial complex. C. Flood Prevention Program along the Imjin River A joint survey of the Imjin River basin in June will be conducted for basic preparatory work that will enable flood preventive measures by stages. The two sides agreed to install flood forecast facilities before the arrival of the monsoon season. D. Ensuring Institutional Mechanism for Economic Cooperation As the two sides agreed to make effective at an early date four agreements on economic cooperation (including shipping, communication, customs and quarantine involving the Gaeseong Industrial Complex), the South will take necessary domestic procedures including ratification by the National Assembly. * A motion to conclude the four agreements on economic cooperation has been pending in the National Assembly since June 2001. Pacts involving the industrial complex, agreed upon in December 2002 by the two sides, are also in the process of going through internal procedures. E. The Mt. Geumgang Tourism Project The Mt. Geumgang tours via overland and sea are likely to resume in June, brightening the prospects for the revitalization of tourism. When overland tour become routine and the plan to develop the Mt. Geumgang area as a special zone is fully launched, the area will become a convenient and promising tourist attraction. F. Provision of Food Loan Since 1995, the South has been providing grain to the North on humanitarian grounds to ease food shortages. The 400,000 tons of rice promised to the North in the form of a loan is being provided in the same vein. * It is estimated that North Korea lacks about 1.5 million tons of grain annually. In deciding to provide rice to the North, the South took into consideration various factors such as the farmers situation and rice stocks in the country, as well as National Assembly discussions about it. * As in 2002, the terms of loan call for repayment in 20 years after a ten-year grace period and the annual interest rate set at 1 percent. And, the rice bags will bear ¡°Republic of Korea¡±labels. The South was assured of maximum transparency in the process of rice distribution in the North. The South will ensure that its assistance will be of substantial help to the North Korean people by obtaining the results of distribution as well as by on-site monitoring of the distribution processes. It also hopes that the food support will ease the North Korean antipathy toward the South. * The South was notified of the results of rice distribution four times: December 17, 2002,January7, February 10 and 18, 2003, respectively, and took part in on-site monitoring of distribution on January 20, 2003. * For better transparency this year, the North is required to notify the South in writing of the distribution results for every 100,000 tons of rice distributed, and the South will send at least two monitors to distribution sites in the eastern and western regions. After each distribution is reset reported to the south. ¡á The Significance of the Agreement a) Despite such sensitive pending issues as North Korea's nuclear problem, an inter-Korean agreement on continued dialogue and cooperative projects will contribute to ease internal concerns over the recent situation and allow stable management of the situation on the Korean peninsula. b) Also, an inter-Korean consensus was formed, supporting that rather than seeking new agreements, it is better to proceed with the implementation of the already agreed points to help solidify the inter-Korean relationship. c) The three major economic cooperation projects agreed to this time are expected to greatly contribute to improving the inter-Korean relationship in the future as both sides showed keen interest in them. The projects will help expand personnel exchange and increase trade as they will reduce logistics costs and eventually lay the groundwork for an inter-Korean economic community. d) Implementation of the economic cooperation will increase contact as well as the opportunities for cooperation between the military authorities of the two Koreas. It will also expand mutual understanding, and lead to military confidence - building. * Direct telephone lines are already available between the military officials responsible for railway and road work. e) Economic cooperation projects are also expected to contribute to fostering conditions in North Korea for change and openness, as they will provide opportunities for North Koreans to learn about the market economy. * Actually, discussions about the construction of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex are being conducted in a way to reflect South Korea's position based on the notion of ¡°Competition.¡±In addition, efforts are also being made to make the Mt. Geumgang area a free and convenient tourist attraction.
Seoul to Donate 200,000 Tons of Fertilizer to Pyongyang
South Korea provides North Korea with 200,000 tons of fertilizer to help enhance agricultural productivity and ease the North's chronic food shortage. The first batch of fertilizer, including 128,000 tons of composite fertilizer and 28,000 tons of urea, will be shipped later this month through the (South) Korean Red Cross. It will take about 40 days to complete the shipment. The total cost of the donation, including the goods and shipping expenses, will be about 65 billion won ($55 million). Canada to Supply Food in Aid to North Korea Canada recently decided to supply food grain worth $2.5 million in aid to North Korea via the World Food Program, the (North) Korean Central News Agency said on May 19. The Canadian government and NGOs provided $9 million worth of food to North Korea via the WFP during 1995-2000, according to a report published by the European Commission in Feb. 2002. North Korea set up diplomatic relations with Canada in Feb. 6, 2001, and named Pak Kil-yon, permanent representative to the UN, concurrently as ambassador to Canada. To improve relations with Canada, North Korea designated the date of July 1 as the Day of Canada in 2002, and held a gathering in Pyongyang to mark the day on July 2 that year. Pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in Canada and Canadians in Toronto organized the Canada-North Korea Association in April last year, aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries in the education and culture sectors. On April 30 this year, the association held its annual meeting in Toronto.
Swiss Foreign Minister to Visit South and North Korea
Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey visited the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from May 16 to 23, 2003. The Government of Switzerland pursued the visit to South and North Korea in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Switzerland's participation in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission(NNSC). While in Pyongyang, Calmy-Rey met the North's head of state Kim Yong-nam, Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun and Trade Minister Ri Kwang-gun to discuss for talks on the situation facing North East Asia and the question of human rights in the reclusive Stalinist country, plus her country's humanitarian aid to the impoverished North and programs to help train North Korean technicians. In 2002, the Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation worked with five cooperative farms in the North, supplying them with farming machinery and material. This assistance program included an additional three farms this year to bring to 15 the total of such farms to benefit from the Korean-Swiss Agricultural Support Program. She dropped by Seoul after her five-day visit to Pyongyang, to brief South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan and Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun on the results of her visit to the North. The Swiss minister held a press meeting and said her country is willing to host multilateral talks aimed at solving the North's nuclear weapons issue if probable participants in the meeting agree. She came directly to South Korea through the border village of Panmunjom where the United Nations Command, and the commanders of the North Korean and Chinese forces signed a truce agreement at the end of the Korean War in July 1953.
North Korea Indicates Willingness to Accept U.S. North Korea on May 24 indicated it is willing to accept the U.S. demand that South Korea and Japan also participate in multilateral talks aimed at resolving the North's nuclear weapons issue. ¡°The format of talks does not present itself as an essential issue if the United States is truly willing to settle the problem,¡±a statement from the North's Foreign Ministry said that day, adding that the U.S. has not yet said any word about the North's proposal which was made during three-way talks in Beijing in late April. The statement, as relayed by the (North) Korean Central News Agency, however, said: ¡°Because there are issues to be settled between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the U.S., the two sides are required to sit down face to face for a candid discussion on each other's policies. Only then, is it possible to have multilateral talks and make them fruitful.¡±The North's statement came within a day after U.S. President George Bush called for five-way talks, in a press meeting held together with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi after their summit at Bush's Texas ranch. The Prime Minister and I agreed that we must broaden these talks to include Japan and South Korea, and at sometime later, perhaps others,¡±Bush said. Koizumi echoed this statement, adding: ¡°The continuation of the multilateral talks is important, and participation by Japan and the Republic of Korea is essential.¡± The Beijing meeting was held April 23-25, ending the Pyongyang-Washington confrontation over the format of the talks, thanks to China's role as a go-between. North Korea wanted bilateral talks with the U.S., while Washington pushed ahead with multilateral negotiations. The North says it made a ¡°bold¡±proposal during the Beijing meeting, while the U.S. said that in bilateral contacts with the U.S. chief negotiator during the talks the North's head delegate made a stunning statement that the country has already developed nuclear weapons and that it could deploy them and even sell them to foreign countries.As indicated by the atmosphere during the initial trilateral meeting and developments thereafter, it would take time for the countries involved to find a solution to the North's nuclear weapons issue.
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