Global Issues of the Twenty-First Century
and United Nations Challenges
A GUIDE TO FACTS AND VIEWS ON MAJOR OR FUTURE TRENDS

In Feb 2005, the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (DPRK), normally known elsewhere as North Korea, had been negotiating its own nuclear weapons-related activities/status against an improved physical/ diplomatic status in return. However, on 10 Feb it caused/reflected a number of new complications when it "declared explicitly for the first time that it now had nuclear weapons, and announced its withdrawal from six-party talks aimed at ending its nuclear ambitions"(from the first item below). The "talks"were being carried out via unprecedented meetings with five"neighbours": USA(meetings'-initiator concerned about irresponsible/nuclear states); Republic of Korea(or South Korea, much wealthier/more democratic); China(traditional co-communist friend but now concerned about any sick but armoured neighbour); Japan(like South Korea a potential target); Russia(its past similar to China's, but less today). Here are titles from selection of good reports on the chronically complex follow-up. [Graham Allison Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe(New York: Owl Books/Henry Holt & Co 05):-extremely disturbing threat-reporting/ending source. It includes serious references to North Korea's global role as both potential nuclear weapons developer and contributor to other potential nuclear weapons developers/users. A specific North Korea sub-title stresses regime's global nuclear-weapons activities(78-81); the stress on the fundamental error of US invasion of Iraq includes:"In the fall of 2002, North Korea shrewdly seized its opportunity and announced that it would begin making more nuclear weapons(134); an essential global security aim: NO NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES(165-171) stresses that "Stopping North Korea from breaking and entering into the nuclear club must become a supreme priority"; and the 2005 AFTERWORD stresses: "North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons production line promises to become greatest failure in nearly 230-year history of American foreign policy"(219). Selig S.Harrison"Did North Korea Cheat?"Foreign Affairs Vol 84/No 1(Jan/Feb 05):-North Korean nuclear background essay is listed and summarized in CONFLICT: EVOLUTION AND FUTURE OF COMBAT AND WEAPONS. It is also immediately followed by summaries of media articles for key period 16 Jan 05 - 03 Mar 05, i.e. around DPRK's unique statement, and leading up to the following:] Reuters"North Korea Abruptly Delays Assembly Session"New York Times 04 Mar 05; The Associated Press"China Calls on U.S. to Meet With N. Korea"NYT 05 Mar 05; Joseph Kahn"China Doubts U.S. Data on North Korean Nuclear Work"NYT 07 Mar 05; Reuters"Nutrition Improves in N.Korea, Aid Still Needed - UN"NYT 07 Mar 05; Reuters"U.S. Envoy Warns North Korea to Return to Nuke Talks"NYT 10 Mar 05; Reuters"US: N.Korea Throws Up Smoke Screens on Nukes"NYT 11 Mar 05; James Brooke"How Electronics Are Penetrating North Korea's Isolation"NYT 15 Mar 05; AP"N. Korea Denounces U.S. - S. Korea Exercises"NYT 15 Mar 05; Reuters "N.Korea Says It May Build More Nuclear Weapons"NYT 15 Mar 05; Reuters"N.Korea Says No Talks Without U.S. Retraction"NYT 16 Mar 05; AP"Envoys Aim to Restart N. Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 17 Mar 05; AP"Official: N. Korea Sought Normalization"NYT 18 Mar 05; Reuters"Rice Presses China on Fresh North Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 18 Mar 05; AP"Rice to Endorse Japan for U.N. Council"NYT 18 Mar 05; Reuters "Rice: U.S. Can't Wait Forever for N.Korean Talks"NYT 20 Mar 05; Joel Brinkley"Visiting Korea Base, Rice Sends Forceful Reminder to the North"NYT 20 Mar 05; Reuters"U.S. Says It May Need New Ways to Deal with N. Korea"NYT 21 Mar 05; Reuters"N.Korea Says It Adds to Nuclear Arsenal"NYT 21 Mar 05; AP"Rice Hints at Sanctions for North Korea"NYT 21 Mar 05; Joel Brinkley"China Balks at Pressing the North Koreans"NYT 22 Mar 05; Reuters"N.Korea Wants Japan Ditched from Six - Way Atom Talks"NYT 22 Mar 05; AP"North Korea's Premier Visits China"NYT 22 Mar 05; AP"China Pressures North Korea for Talks" NYT 23 Mar 05; Reuters"Bush Says Kim Jong - Il 'Must Listen' on Nuclear"NYT 23 Mar 05; Howard W. French"Glimpse of World Shatters North Koreans' Illusions"NYT 24 Mar 05; Reuters"China Says No Breakthrough on North Korea Nuclear Talks"NYT 24 Mar 05; Reuters"U.S. Team Says North Korea Suppresses Religion"NYT 24 Mar 05; Reuters"US Sees N.Korea as an Equal in Nuclear Talks: Seoul"NYT 24 Mar 05; Reuters"South Korean Lawmakers See North 'Execution' Tapes"NYT 25 Mar 05; AP"North Korean Premier Visits Shanghai"NYT 25 Mar 05; Reuters"China's Hu to Visit N.Korea in Early May - - Report"NYT 25 Mar 05; Reuters"WFP Cuts Food Aid for N.Korea, Says Worse Ahead''NYT 26 Mar 05; AP "North Korea: Drills Delay Nuclear Talks"NYT 26 Mar 05; AP"U.N. Agency Seeks More Food for N. Korea" NYT 26 Mar 05; AP"North Korea Reports Outbreak of Bird Flu"NYT 27 Mar 05; Reuters"S.Korea Ready to Help North Contain Bird Flu"NYT 27 Mar 05; Howard W.French"North Korea Experiments, With China as Its Model"NYT 28 Mar 05; AP"N. Korea Puts Restrictions on Aid Workers"NYT 29 Mar 05; Reuters"Seoul: China Working on N.Korea for New Nuke Talks"NYT 30 Mar 05; Reuters"World Glimpses North Korea Violence After Soccer Loss"NYT 30 Mar 05; Norimitsu Onishi"Rogue Fans Disrupt Iran-North Korea Soccer Match"NYT 31 Mar 05; Reuters"North Korea Wants Comprehensive Arms Talks - Yonhap" NYT 31 Mar 05; AP"N. Korea Demands Equal Treatment in Talks"NYT 31 Mar 05; Reuters"N.Korea Sets Date for Parliament After Delay"NYT 31 Mar 05; Reuters"N.Korea Wants Explicit U.S. Apology Before Talks"NYT 31 Mar 05; "RED-HANDED: The Truth About North Korea's Weapons Program"Foreign Affairs Vol 84/No 2(Mar/Apr 05):-this Responses section contains three articles following up the critical essay "Did North Korea Cheat?" that is the first item included in this list. They are: Mitchell B.Reiss & Robert L.Gallucci "Dead to Rights"; Richard L.Garwin"HEU Done It"; and Selig S.Harrison, the author of the controversial "first item", in "Harrison Replies"in response to the other two; AP"U.S. Envoy Shuns N. Korea Apology Request" NYT 01 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Forces Say May Cut Combat Equipment in Seoul"NYT 02 Apr 05; AP"N. Korea Wants Japan Out of Nuclear Talks"NYT 02 Apr 05; Reuters"No Sign N.Korea Returning to Nuke Talks: Official"NYT 06 Apr 05; AP"U.S. Envoy: N. Korea Nukes Went to Libya"NYT 07 Apr 05; Joel Brinkley "North Korea Said to Reject China's Bid on Nuclear Talks"NYT 09 Apr 05; Reuters"Time Running Out to Get N.Korea to Talks - US Expert"NYT 09 Apr 05; AP"Scholar: N. Korea Won't Dismantle Weapons"NYT 09 Apr 05; AP"S. Korea to Play Neutral Role in Asia"NYT 10 Apr 05; Joseph Kahn"North Korea Deals a Blow to Arms Talks"NYT 11 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Says No Deadline, Concessions for N.Korea"NYT 11 Apr 05; AP"North Korean Parliament Approves Budget"NYT 11 Apr 05; Reuters"No Aid to North Korea Until Nuclear Crisis Ends: Roh"NYT 13 Apr 05; AP"S. Korea Willing to Help North's Economy"NYT 13 Apr 05; Reuters"Roh: N.Korea Collapse Unlikely and Undesirable"NYT 14 Apr 05; Reuters"North Korea To Boost 'Atomic Potential' - Tass"NYT 14 Apr 05; AP"North Korea to Increase Nuclear Deterrent"NYT 14 Apr 05; Reuters"North Korea Fetes Birthday of Late Great Leader Kim"NYT 15 Apr 05; Economist 16 Apr 05"George Bush's Appointments: Bolton Wanderer"(26-7):-report on US Senate debate over President's nominee to become ambassador to the UN recalls a State Department divide regarding US policy towards North Korea; David E.Sanger"Steps at Reactor in North Korea Worry the U.S."NYT 17 Apr 05; Reuters"Seoul: N.Korea Halts Nuclear Reactor, Reason Unclear"NYT 18 Apr 05; AP"North Korea Nuke Shutdown Raises Concerns"NYT 18 Apr 05; Reuters"Seoul: N.Korea Security Council Referral an Option" NYT 20 Apr 05; AP"North Korea Asks U.S. to Change Policy"NYT 21 Apr 05; Reuters"Senior South, North Koreans Meet; No Nuclear Talk"NYT 22 Apr 05; AP"N. Korea Says Nukes Needed for Defense"NYT 22 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Sees Nothing Definitive on N. Korea Nuke Tests" NYT 22 Apr 05; AP"Korean Leaders Agree to Resume Talks"NYT 23 Apr 05; Reuters"North, S.Korea Meet Again in Jakarta, No Breakthrough" NYT 23 Apr 05; AP"Korean Leaders Agree to Restart Talks"NYT 24 Apr 05; David E.Sanger"White House May Go to U.N. Over North Korean Shipments"NYT 25 Apr 05; Reuters"Nuclear Test Would Be Bad Move for N.Korea - Seoul"NYT 25 Apr 05; AP"South Korea Warns North Over Nuclear Test"NYT 25 Apr 05; AP"South Korea Warns North Over Nuclear Test"NYT 25 Apr 05;Nicholas D.Kristof:OP-ED COLUMNIST"N. Korea, 6, and Bush, 0"NYT 26 Apr 05:-since the item's title is unusual, its thrust is unclear without reading some of the text. It concludes very critically:"The irony is that Mr. Bush's policies toward North Korea have steadily become more reasonable over time. Perhaps by the time he leaves office, he'll finally be willing to negotiate seriously with the North Koreans. But by then North Korea will have well over a dozen weapons, the risks of a terrorist nuclear explosion at Grand Central Terminal[NY] will be increased and our influence in Asia will be in tatters."; Reuters"U.S. Plays Down Talk of North Korea Quarantine"NYT 25 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Negotiator in China to Push for N.Korea Talks" NYT 26 Apr 05; AP"U.S. Nuclear Envoy Arrives in Beijing"NYT 26 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. North Korea Envoy Says Nuclear Talks Uncertain" NYT 26 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Says Fate of North Korea Nuclear Talks in Doubt"NYT 27 Apr 05; AP"S. Korea Urges N. Korea to Negotiate"NYT 27 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Envoy Says 6 - Way Talks Still Best for N.Korea"NYT 28 Apr 05; AP"N. Korea Refusal to Talk Called a Problem"NYT 28 Apr 05; Reuters"U.S. Agency Says N.Korea Can Mount Warhead on Missile"NYT 28 Apr 05; David S.Cloud & David E.Sanger "U.S. Aide Sees Arms Advance by North Korea"NYT 29 Apr 05; Reuters"North Korea Reactor Shut - Down Problematic, U.S. Says"NYT 29 Apr 05; AP"Top U.S. Envoy Warns N.Korea on Nuke Tests"NYT 29 Apr 05; James Brooke"U.S. Weapons Envoy Pessimistic About Talks With North Korea"NYT 29 Apr 05; Reuters"N.Korea May Carry Out Nuclear Test by June - Kyodo"NYT 29 Apr 05; Economist 30 Apr 05 "Curbing Proliferation: How To Stop the Spread of the Bomb; The World's Anti-Nuclear Rules are in Urgent Need of Tightening"(Edit.12); AP"Feds: N. Korea Could Build Nuke Missile"NYT 30 Apr 05; AP"U.S. Warns of Possible N. Korea Nuke Test"NYT 30 Apr 05; AP"U.S.: N. Korea Could Put Nuke on Missile"NYT 30 Apr 05; AP"North Korea Sees No Solution to Standoff"NYT 30 Apr 05; Reuters"N.Korea Nuclear Test Could Change Dynamics in Asia"NYT 01 May 05; David E.Sanger"Threats by Iran and North Korea Shadow Talks on Nuclear"NYT 01 May 05:-item discusses UN's five-year review of Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty at which US delegation tends to: stress nuclear weapons threat from North Korea and Iran; criticize the treaty's inability to prevent that; and anticipate criticism of its own nuclear weapons planning in lieu of US's treaty obligation to eliminate its own stockpile; AP"Report: North Korea May Have Fired Missile"NYT 01 May 05; Reuters"Reports: N.Korea May Have Launched Missile Near Japan"NYT 01 May 05; Reuters"U.S. Targets Iran, North Korea at Nuke Arms Talks"NYT 01 May 05; AP"N. Korea Missile Test Raises New Fears"NYT 01 May 05; AP"S. Korea Downplays N. Korea Missile Test"NYT 01 May 05; Reuters"South Korea, Japan Play Down Missile Testing by North"NYT 01 May 05; Brian Knowlton"U.S. Denounces North Korea After Reports of Missile Test" International Herald Tribune via NYT 01 May 05; Reuters"Neighbours Play Down Threat of N.Korea Missile Test"NYT 02 May 05; AP"Neighbours Play Down N.Korea Missile Test"NYT 02 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea Develops Missiles for Strategic Power, Cash"NYT 02 May 05; Reuters"Japan, EU Urge N.Korea to Scrap Nuclear Reactors"NYT 02 May 05; Reuters"Iran, North Korea Dominate Nuclear Conference"NYT 02 May 05; AP"Nations Gather to Review Nuclear Treaty"NYT 02 May 05; AP"S. Korea Says It Has No Intel on Nuke Test"NYT 03 May 05; Reuters"U.S. Intelligence Detects N.Korea Test Work - Daily"NYT 03 May 05; AP"Chance of Resuming Nuclear Talks Said Slim"NYT 04 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea Tested Improved, Short-Range Missile"NYT 04 May 05; Reuters"S.Korea Says At 'Critical Moment' on N.Korea Crisis"NYT 04 May 05; Reuters"Bush, Hu Express Concern About North Korea"NYT 05 May 95; Reuters"N.Korea Nukes, Japan's Past Haunt Asia - Europe Talks"NYT 06 May 05; David E.Sanger & William J.Broad"U.S. Cites Signs of Korean Steps to Nuclear Test"NYT 06 May 05; AP"North Korea May Test Nuclear Device"NYT 06 May 05; AP"Japan Threatens U.N. Action on N. Korea"NYT 06 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea Nuclear Threat Haunts Asia - Europe Meet"NYT 06 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea, China - Japan Talks Top Asia - Europe Meet"NYT 06 May 05; Economist 07 May 05"North Korea: Testing Times; And No Talks In Sight"(39); David E.Sanger"U.S. Warns North Korea Against Nuclear Test"NYT 07 May 05; AP"Ministers Urge N. Korea on Nuclear Talks"NYT 07 May 05; Reuters"Ministers Urge North Korea Back to Nuclear Talks"NYT 07 May 05; Reuters"North Korea Warned"[by US]NYT 08 May 05; David E.Sanger"Who Scares the Rest? (See Bottom Left)"NYT 08 May 05:-"Political power of atomic weapons no longer rests on the size of your stockpiles...It is linked to your ability to convince the world that you might just be crazy enough to use, or sell, whatever you've got." "Bottom Left" is photo of North Korean angry crowd demonstration. Reuters "S.Korea's Roh to Meet China's Hu to Discuss Talks"NYT 08 May 05; AP"Envoy Wants to Resume Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 08 May 05; Brian Knowlton"Chair of Senate Intelligence Committee Believes North Korea Is Preparing Nuclear Test"IHT in NYT 08 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea Hints of Return to Stalled Nuclear Talks"NYT 08 May 05; AP"IAEA: North Korea Can Make Atomic Arms"NYT 09 May 05; Financial Times "Pyongyang Keeps World Guessing on Arms"via NYT 09 May 05; Daniel A.Pinkston"Q&A: North Korea Talks 'Are Dead'"Council on Foreign Relations 09 May 05:-Substantial interview by Bernard Gwertzman, consulting editor for cfr.org with director of East Asia Nonproliferation Program and Korea specialist at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California; Joseph Kahn & David E.Sanger"China Rules Out Using Sanctions to Pressure North Korea"NYT 11 May 05; James Brooke"North Korea Says It Has Removed Nuclear Rods From Reactor"NYT 11 May 05; Reuters"Japan Gives Green Light to North Korean Ferry"NYT 11 May 05; AP"N. Korean Defectors Seeking Jobs in South"NYT 11 May 05; Reuters "N.Korea Completes Extracting Nuclear Fuel Rods - KCNA"NYT 11 May 05; Reuters"Text of North Korean Government Nuclear Statement"NYT 11 May 05; AP"U.S. Presses China on N.Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 11 May 05; Reuters"North Korea Says Completes Nuclear Fuel Extraction"NYT 11 May 05; AP"North Korea Says It Has Removed Nuclear Rods From Reactor"NYT 11 May 05; David E.Sanger"What Are Koreans Up To? U.S. Agencies Can't Agree"NYT 11 May 05; James Brooke"North Koreans Claim to Extract Fuel for Nuclear Weapons"NYT 11 May 05; Reuters"Region, Markets Calm Despite N.Korea Nuclear Boast" NYT 12 May 05; FT"North Korea Nuclear Fears Deepen" NYT 12 May 05; AP"North Korea Plans to Bolster Nuke Arsenal"NYT 12 May 05; AP"Japan: Talks Possible Without N. Korea"NYT 12 Mar 05; Joseph Kahn "China Says U.S. Impeded North Korea Arms Talks"NYT 12 May 05; Norimitsu Onishi"South Korea Urges the North to Rejoin Talks on Weapons"NYT 12 May 05; Reuters"S.Korea Bullish On North Atom Talks Despite Boast"NYT 13 May 05; AP"U.S. Envoy to Discuss N. Korea Standoff"NYT 13 May 05; Reuters "China Says U.S. Impending N.Korea Arms Talks"NYT 13 May 05; Reuters"Two Koreas To Meet, Nuclear Talks On Agenda"NYT 14 May 05; Economist 14 May 05:-"Iran and North Korea: Return of the Axis of Evil"(9); AP"North Korea Distrustful of U.S. Overture"NYT 14 May 05; James Brooke"South Korea Pushes to Engage the North, Rejecting U.S. Notion of a Quarantine"NYT 15 May 05; AP"Japan Official Calls for N. Korea Sanctions"NYT 15 May 05; Reuters"Korea Meeting A Chance To Push For Nuke Talks - Seoul"NYT 15 May 05; AP"Japan Official Calls for N. Korea Sanctions"NYT 13 May 05; Reuters"North And South Korea Resume Talks After Long Gap"NYT 15 May 05; David E.Sanger"U.S. Is Warning North Koreans on Nuclear Test"NYT 15 May 05; AP"Koreas Resume Talks After 10 - Month Hiatus"NYT 16 May 05; AP"South Korea Luring North to Nuclear Talks"NYT 16 May 05; Reuters"S.Korea Has New Offer If North Goes To Atom Talks"NYT 16 May 05; Norimitsu Onishi"South Korea Says It Doubts That the North Plans an A-Test"NYT 16 May 05; Reuters"South Korea To Again Press North On Nuclear Talks"NYT 16 May 05; AP"Two Koreas Resume Nuke Talks After Hiatus"NYT 16 May 05; Reuters"North Korea Asks China To Arrange Rice Visit - Report"NYT 17 May 05; AP"Koreas' Meeting Shows Sign of Souring"NYT 17 May 05; Reuters"South Korea Keeps Pressing North To Resume Talk"NYT 17 May 05; AP"Rival Koreas Extend Talks to Thursday"NYT 18 May 05; Reuters"North Korean Ferry Meets Japan Protests"NYT 18 May 05; Reuters"S.Korea Enticing North To Talks With New Proposal"NYT 18 May 05; Reuters"South Koreans Mark 25 Years Since Kwangju Uprising"NYT 18 May 05: brief account of origin of democracy in South Korea; AP"N. Korea Plays Off Fears in Nuke Standoff"NYT 18 May 05; Reuters "Seoul Plays Down Expectations On N.Korea Atom Talks"NYT 18 May 05; William Grimes"What to Do About a Country That Has a Nuclear Threat and No Use for Rules"NYT 18 May 05:-generally favorable review of: Jasper Becker "Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea"(New York: Oxford Univ.Press 05). Author is a veteran foreign correspondent, who is criticized only for a somewhat imperfect grammatic style. But this is the result of getting the book out very fast to inform readers of North Korea's confrontational nuclear situation, and suggest the counter military action US government might take. "If the history feels thin, the journalism is compelling."; Reuters"U.S. Says It Held Talks With North Korea"NYT 19 May 05; AP"U.S. and North Korean Officials Met Last Week"NYT 19 May 05; Reuters"S.Korea Gives North Farm Help, No Nuclear Accord"NYT 19 May 05; AP"Koreas Can't Break Nuclear Impasse"NYT 19 May 05; IHT"Koreas End Talks but Agree to Resume High-Level Ties"via NYT 19 May 05; Norimitsu Onishi"In Rare Talks, the 2 Koreas Agree to Talk Again Next Month"NYT 19 May 05; Reuters"S.Korean Media Critical On Talks, U.S. Met North"NYT 19 May 05; AP"S. Korea Sways N. Korea to Hold Nuke Talks"NYT 20 May 05; Reuters"South Korea Criticized On Talks"NYT 20 May 05; Reuters "U.S. Considering Food Aid For North Korea"NYT 20 May 05; Reuters"Japanese, Korean Leaders To Meet On June 20"NYT 20 May 05:-"The leaders...will meet...with the twin aims of easing tensions over a territorial dispute and jumpstarting talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis; Reuters"South Korea Sends Fertilizer To North Korea By Land"NYT 20 May 05; Economist 21 May 05"South Korea: The Daughter Also Rises"(44):-"Next South Korean president might be a woman... Her attitude to North Korea is pragmatic. Although she talks tough, she paid a visit to North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il, three years ago; AP"U.S. Considers Sending N. Korea Food Aid"NYT 21 May 05; Reuters"N. Korea Sets Conditions For Return To Talks - Daily"NYT 22 May 05; AP"N. Korea Says It's Watching U.S. Attitude"NYT 22 May 05; AP"N. Korean Cargo Ship Makes Historic Trip"NYT 22 May 05; Choe Sang-Hun"North Korean Ships Arrive in South Korea to Pick Up Fertilizer"IHT via NHT 22 May 05; AP"N. Korea Claims Confusion by U.S. Position"NYT 22 May 05; Reuters"N.Korean Ships Make Rare Visit To Ports In South"NYT 23 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea Considering Nuclear Talks Return - Analysts"NYT 23 May 05; Reuters"Russian Envoy To Japan Pessimistic On NKorea Talks"NYT 23 May 05; AP"Russian Official: Prevent N. Korean Test"NYT 23 May 05; AP"S. Korea Urges North to Respond to U.S."NYT 23 May 05; AP"Report: Leaders May Meet, Discuss N. Korea"NYT 23 May 05; Reuters"China Says Bush, Hu To Exchange Visits This Year"NYT 24 May 05:-North Korean issues not mentioned, but sure to be subject; Reuters"U.S. Head Of N. Korea Nuclear Consortium Let Go"NYT 25 May 05; Reuters "N.Korean Ships End Rare Visit To South"NYT 25 May 05; Reuters"N.Korea Unmoved Despite U.S.Contact - - Czech Leader"NYT 25 May 05; Reuters"U.S. Suspends Hunt For Troop Remains In N. Korea"NYT 25 May 05; Reuters"South Korea Criticizes 'Rude' Japanese Official"NYT 26 May 05:-somewhat stiff relations are identified as partly reflecting different views towards N. Korea; Reuters "Pentagon Making Plans If N.Korea Abandons Talks"NYT 26 May 05; AP"Fashion Show Highlights Contrast in Korea"NYT 26 May 05:-"South Korea and Hyundai business group are developing [Kaesong Industrial Complex]zone as model of inter-Korean cooperation, hoping will encourage Pyongyang to reform its poverty-wracked, centrally controlled economy and open up to outside world"; AP"N. Korea Denies Nuclear Testing Reports"NYT 27 May 05; AP"Koreas to Hold Joint Music Festival"NYT 27 May 05:-festival will take place at tourism project on North's east coast; Reuters"U.S. Sends Mixed Messages In N.Korea Nuke Dispute"NYT 27 May 05; AP"N.Korea: U.S. Plotting S.Korea Occupation"NYT 28 May 05; Reuters"S. Koreans Clash With Police In Anti - U.S. Protest"NYT 29 May 05:-"March... called by major students' activist group demanding US scrap policy it says heightens tensions with North Korea"; AP"South Korean Students Hold Anti - U.S. Rally"NYT 29 May 05; AP"Cheney: China Key to Ending N. Korea Nukes"NYT 29 May 05; Joel Brinkley"Pressure on North Korea: U.S. Stealth Jets Sent to South"NYT 30 May 05; David E.Sanger"Rice to Discuss Antiproliferation Program"NYT 30 May 05:-"With tensions mounting over negotiations with [North Korea and Iran, US] administration officials are eager to demonstrate that their own approach, which operates outside of treaties or UN, is already choking off [weapons and missile technology.] But China is not part of [Bush's Proliferation Security Initiative], and its participation would be critical to enforcing a quarantine on North Korea."; Reuters"North Korean Growth Masks Economic Troubles"NYT 31 May 05; Reuters"Bush Says Diplomatic Options Remain On North Korea"NYT 31 May 05; Reuters"North Korean Growth Masks Economic Troubles"NYT 31 May 05; James Brooke"North Korea, Facing Food Shortages, Mobilizes Millions From the Cities to Help Rice Falmers"NYT 01 Jun 05; Reuters"S.Korea Says Distrust Delaying Talks"NYT 01 Jun 05; AP"North Korea Facing Huge Food Shortages"NYT 01 Jun 05; AP"U.N. Cites North Korea Food Shortages"NYT 01 Jun 05; AP"South Korea Applauds Bush Diplomacy Vow"NYT 01 Jun 05; AP"North Korea Calls Cheney a 'Bloodthirsty Beast'NYT 02 Jun 05; Reuters"N.Korea Calls Cheney A 'bloodthirsty Beast'NYT 02 Jun 05; James Brooke"North Korea Denounces the U.S. and Calls Cheney 'Bloodthirsty'"NYT 02 Jun 05; Reuters "After Cheney Blast, Rare N.Korean Praise For Bush"NYT 03 Jun 05; Reuters"Failed NPT Talks Bad Signal For 6 - Way Talks - NKorea"NYT 03 Jun 05; AP"Rumsfeld: China a Major Buyer of Weapons"NYT 03 Jun 05:-Despite its title, most of article relates to North Korean problem; AP"North Korea Praises Bush for Use of 'Mr.'"NYT 03 Jun 05; Reuters"N.Korean, U.S. Officials Spoke By Phone"NYT 04 Jun 05; AP "Report: U.S., North Korea Speak by Phone"NYT 04 Jun 05; Reuters"U.S. Could Decide Soon On Taking N. Korea To U.N."NYT 05 Jun 05; AP"N.Korea Again Faults U.S. Nuclear Policy"NYT 05 Jun 05; AP"U.S. May Push U.N. to Punish North Korea"NYT 05 Jun 05; Joseph Cirincione"Q&A: Resolving the Iranian and North Korean Nuclear Crises"Council on Foreign Relations 06 Jun 05:-North Korean nuclear program is declared more urgent than Iran's, and is discussed first. Exchanges includes gloomy view on failure of recent review conference on Non-Proliferation Treaty; David E.Sanger & Thom Shanker"North Korea Is Reported to Hint at Nuclear Talks"NYT 06 Jun 05; Reuters"Japan Says May Need To Let UN Handle N.Korea Issue"NYT 06 Jun 05; AP"Japan Believes N. Korea Wants Nuke Talks"NYT 06 Jun 05; AP "Rumsfeld: No Quick Decision on N. Korea"NYT 06 Jun 05; AP"Japan Endorses U.S. - North Korea Meeting"NYT 06 Jun 05; Reuters"US, North Korean Officials Meet In New York"NYT 07 Jun 05; AP"Seoul Urged to Ease Food Shortage in North"NYT 07 Jun 05; AP"Japan Urges N. Korea to Return to Talks"NYT 07 Jun 05; Reuters"US - North Korea Meeting Leads To Optimism"NYT 07 Jun 05; David E.Sanger"North Korea Said to Offer to Rejoin Nuclear Talks"NYT 07 Jun 05; AP"China: N. Korea Talks Likely to Start Soon"NYT 07 Jun 05; Reuters"North Korea Nuke Talks May Resume In Weeks - China"NYT 07 Jun 05; AP "North Korea Says It Is Open to Resuming Six-Party Negotiations"NYT 07 Jun 05; Reuters"Japan Mulls Damage Control Vs N.Korea Attack - Report"NYT 07 Jun 05; Reuters"N.Koreans Seek Asylum At Thai Embassy In Hanoi"NYT 08 Jun 05:-item's final para:"In Jul 04, more than 460 North Korean refugees were airlifted to South Korea from Vietnam in a secret South Korean operation that enraged the North's leaders and caused them to suspend North-South Korean dialogue."; AP"Prospect of N.Korea Talks Met With Caution"NYT 08 Jun 05; Reuters"N.Korea Faces Food Crisis Despite Reforms - Expert"NYT 08 Jun 05; AP"North Korea Boasts It Has More Bombs"NYT 09 Jun 05; AP"Bush, South Korean President to Meet" NYT 09 Jun 05; Reuters"S.Korea's Roh Arrives in U.S. for Bush Talks on North"NYT 09 Jun 05; Reuters "Bush, Roh to Send Message of Unity to North Korea"NYT 10 Jun 05; AP"Bush, S. Korean Leader Differ on N. Korea"NYT 10 Jun 05; AP"Bush, S. Korea Try to Bridge Differences"NYT 10 Jun 05; David Stout "Bush and South Korean President Stress Common Goals"NYT 10 Jun 05; Reuters"Bush, Roh Press North Korea to Return to Talks"NYT 10 Jun 05; Economist 11 Jun 05"North Korea: Test Its Intentions" (Edit.11-2):-"The diplomats need to get a better act together"; Economist 11 Jun 05"America and the Koreas: A Lull in Insult Diplomacy"(39-40):-"North Korea hints that it may return to nuclear talks. But is that progress?"; Economist 11 Jun 05"North Korea: Bad Guys"(81-2):-review of new book: Jasper Becker "Rogue Regime: Kim Jong Il and the Looming Threat of North Korea"(Oxford Univ Press 04) 300pp; David E.Sanger"U.S. and Seoul Try to Ease Rift on Talks With the North"NYT 11 Jun 05; AP"U.S. Troops Review Safety in South Korea"NYT 11 Jun 05; Reuters "Top Korean Officials to Hold Rare Meet in Pyongyang" NYT 12 Jun 05; Reuters"ANALYSIS - N.Korea Nuclear Test Would Spur Neighbours"NYT 12 Jun 05; AP "South Korea Optimistic on Nuclear Talks"NYT 13 Jun 05; Reuters"UN Rights Envoy Asks China to Aid N.Korea Refugees"NYT 13 Jun 05; Reuters "S.Korea's Roh Says North Can Expect Flexibility"NYT 13 Jun 05; Reuters"Rice Says Does Not Know if N.Korea's Kim Is Sane"NYT 13 Jun 05:-statement in response to interview question; AP"S. Korean Official Arrives in Pyongyang"NYT 14 Jun 05; AP"IAEA Chief Urges N. Korea to Abandon Nukes"NYT 14 Jun 05; AP"Korean Unity Elusive 5 Years After Summit"NYT 14 Jun 05; AP"S. Korean Envoy in North for Summit Marker"NYT 14 Jun 05; John Kifner"Returning Lebanese General Stuns Anti-Syria Alliance"NYT 13 Jun 05; AP"Key Players in Lebanese Elections"NYT 13 Jun 05:-2-3 lines each on: Saad Hariri, Walid Jumblatt, Michel Aoun, Nabih Berri, Samir Geagea, Suleiman Franjieh; AP"Switching General Hurts Lebanon Opposition"NYT 13 Jun 05; Reuters"Syria Says Won't Give U.S. 'Pretext' to Attack"NYT 13 Jun 05; AP "Aoun Sets Back Anti - Syrian Opposition"NYT 13 Jun 05; AP"AP: Hariri Hopes for Rebound in Lebanon" NYT 14 Jun 05; Reuters "U.N. Seeks End to Nuke Standoffs with N.Korea, Iran"NYT 14 Jun 05; Reuters "Koreas Mark Anniversary but Nuclear Crisis Looms"NYT 15 Jun 05; AP"South, North Korea Celebrate 2000 Summit"NYT 15 Jun 05; Steven R.Weisman"Bush Aides Report 'Increasing Doubts' North Korea Will Give Up Nuclear Arms Program" NYT 15 Jun 05; Reuters"US Envoy Says Time Not on N.Korea's Side for Talks"NYT 15 Jun 05; Reuters "Koreans Play in Celebration, Skirt Nuclear Crisis"NYT 16 Jun 05; Reuters "U.S. May Consider Other Options on North Korea"NYT 16 Jun 05; Reuters"N.Korea's Kim to Meet S.Korean Minister Friday" NYT 16 Jun 05; AP"Key Dates in North Korea Nuclear Crisis"NYT 17 Jun 05:-22 dates are identified in one or two lines, covering Dec 2001-17 Jun 05; AP"North Korean Leader Hints at Return to Talks"NYT 17 Jun 05; Norimitsu Onishi"North Korean Leader Signals Willingness to Resume Talks"NYT 17 Jun 05; Norimitsu Onishi"North Korea's Leader Says He's Ready to Resume Talks to End Nuclear Standoff"NYT 17 Jun 05; Reuters"N.Korea Says Can Return to Atomic Talks in July"NYT 17 Jun 05; AP"South Korea Envoys to Hold Consultations"NYT 18 Jun 05:-in light of Kim's offer - and cool US response, ROK "envoys will fly to Washington, Moscow and Beijing", while Japanese PM Koisumi will be in Seoul 20 Jun; James Brooke"A Voice From North Korea Echoes in the White House"NYT 18 Jun 05:-reference is to Kang Chol Hwan"The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag"(Seoul: English Trans by: Basic Books 02) which describes 10 years in North Korean "slave labor camp, was read by President Bush spring 05, was recommended to his senior staff, and influences US policy; Reuters"Seoul Sees Breakthrough From Talks with North's Kim"NYT 19 Jun 05; Norimitsu Onishi"Japan and South Korea Brace for a Tense Summit Meeting"NYT 19 Jun 05:-ref to their bilateral difficulties complicating pressure on North Korea; AP"Koreas to Resume Nuke Disarmament Talks"NYT 20 Jun 05; Reuter"N.Korea's Kim Says Might Give Up Missiles - South"NYT 20 Jun 05; AP"Japan, S. Korea Fail to Settle Disputes"NYT 20 Jun 05; Reuters"Japan and South Korea to Push North Korea on Nuclear Talks"NYT 20 Jun 05; Reuters"South Korean PM Lands in China for Talks"NYT 21 Jun 05; AP"North Korean Delegation Arrives for Talks"NYT 21 Jun 05:-reference is to high-level delegation in Seoul to "seek reconciliation" with South, and to discuss return to nuclear disarmament negotiations; Reuters"Two Koreas Agree to Talk but Disagree on Issues"NYT 21 Jun 05:- North has interest in winning more food aid; AP"N. Korean Delegation Angered by Protests"NYT 21 Jun 05:-protesters raised strong public criticism of President Kim Jong Il; Reuters"S.Korean PM Seeks Support on N.Korea"NYT 21 Jun 05; AP"Korean Conscript's Rampage Raises Concern"NYT 21 Jun 05:-worry whether South Korean army is capable of defending against North; AP"North, South Korea Open High - Level Talks"NYT 21 Jun 05; Reuters"North Korea Wants to Talk, Says China"NYT 22 Jun 05; Reuters"S.Korea Urges North to Return to Nuclear Talks"NYT 22 Jun 05; AP"N. Korea Makes Pledge Over Nuclear Weapons"NYT 22 Jun 05:-compromise would allegedly be US treating DPRK "like a friend"; AP "Korea Experts: U.S. Spurned '02 Kim Effort"NYT 22 Jun 05; David E.Sanger"U.S. Plans to Renew Its Offer of Food Aid to North Korea"NYT 22 Jun 05; Reuters"U.S. To Give North Korea 50,000 Tonnes in Food Aid"NYT 22 Jun 05; AP"U.S. to Provide Food to North Korea"NYT 22 Jun 05; Reuters"China, Japan in Talks to Mend Relations"NYT 23 Jun 05:-ends noting talks come"as momentum gathers for resumption of six-party negotiations, involving both China and Japan, on North Korea's nuclear program; AP"Koreas Agree to Resolve Nuclear Standoff"NYT 23 Jun 05; Reuters"Koreas End Meeting Without Nuclear Talks Agreement"NYT 23 Jun 05; AP"Koreas Make No Progress on Resuming Talks"NYT 23 Jun 05; Reuters "North Koreans Go Home with Aid, but No Talks Pledge"NYT 23 Jun 05; AP"N. Korea Rebuffs Date for Nuclear Talks"NYT 24 Jun 05; Reuters"S.Korea Says Biggest Threat Is North's Nuclear Aims"NYT 25 Jun 05; AP"S. Korea Decries N. Korea Nuke Ambitions"NYT 25 Jun 05; Reuters"Japan Suspects Iran - N.Korea Missile Link - Report"NYT 26 Jun 05; AP"S.Korea to Give Fertilizer to N.Korea"NYT 26 Jun 05; AP"U.S. Campaign to Push for N. Korean Rights"NYT 26 Jun 05:-movement led by private Texan group, which invites Kang Chol Hwan(op.cit.) to visit US; AP"Summary Box: N. Korea Human Rights"NYT 26 Jun 05:-slightly amplifies previous item; Reuters"S.Korea Provides Additional Fertilizer Aid to North"NYT 27 Jun 05; Reuters"Japan to Raise N.Korea Nuclear Issue at G8"NYT 27 Jun 05; AP"S. Korea's Point Man on North Goes to D.C."NYT 27 Jun 05:-Unification Minister plans to tell US officials/lawmakers about his recent personal meeting with Kim Jong Il; Reuters"Reunions to Go High Tech for Koreans Split by War" NYT 28 Jun 05:-plan is to enable "Koreans seeking family members on other side of heavily militarized border to see and speak to each other via TV-monitor connection"; AP"N. Korea Defector Presses Human Rights"NYT 28 Jun 05:-ref is to author Kang Chol Hwan; Reuters"U.S. Military Says Can Defeat Nuclear - Armed N.Korea"NYT 29 Jun 05; Reuters"Bush Issues WMD Order on N.Korea, Iran, Syria"NYT 29 Jun 05:- instruction relates to control of specific US exports to nations; Joel Brinkley"U.S. and Allies to Meet Official of North Korea"NYT 29 Jun 05; Reuters"N. Korea Resumes Building Nuclear Reactors - Report"NYT 30 Jun 05; Reuters"U.S., N.Korea Informally Discuss Nuclear Row"NYT 30 Jun 05:-two-day conference in NY... "included officials from the countries involved in the six-party talks"; Richard N.Haas"Regime Change and Its Limits"Foreign Affairs Vol.84/No.4(Jul/Aug 05):-"So far, the Bush administration has shown it would like to resolve its problems with North Korea and Iran the same way it did with Iraq: through regime change. It is easy to see why. But the strategy is unlikely to work, at least not quickly enough. A much broader approach - involving talks, sanctions, and the threat of force - is needed."; Reuters"Conference Said Optimistic on North Korea Talks"NYT 01 Jul 05:-ref. is to "informal discussions" in NY; Reuters"Optimism Raised on N. Korea Talks, No Date Fixed"NYT 01 Jul 05; AP"North Korea Wants U.S. to Withdraw Remark"NYT 02 Jul 05; Reuters"S.Korea, US Agree to Merge North Nuclear Proposals"NYT 02 Jul 05; AP "S.Korea Hopeful N.Korea Will Come to Talks"NYT 04 Jul 05; AP"North Korea, U.N. on Japan's Mind"NYT 05 Jul 05:-ref. is to PM Koizumi's priorities at G8 summit; Reuters"North Korea Criticizes Bush Over Nuclear Stance"NYT 05 Jul 05; Reuters"North Korea Still a Threat South's Next Top Spy"NYT 05 Jul 05:-ref. after "Threat" is to view of next director of National Intelligence Service; Reuters"Seoul Sees N. Korea Nuclear Talks Resuming in July"NYT 05 Jul 05; AP"S. Korea: Rice Visit a Chance for Talks"NYT 06 Jul 05:-Rice in Seoul 12-13 Jul, with visits to China and Japan as well; Reuters"US Will Never Be Able to Use Arms on N.Korea - Roh"NYT 07 Jul 05:-S. Korean president's statement(translated)is less incredible than title when quoted:"Neither side has the freedom to take the situation to a breakdown... Under no circumstances can the North choose nuclear weapons, and under no circumstances can US choose military means". Allusion seems more towards practical constraints on wild initiatives, than toward 100% truth forever; AP "China Sending Special Envoy to N. Korea"NYT 08 Jul 05; Reuters"China's Hu Sending Envoy to North Korea"NYT 08 Jul 05:-former FM and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will go immediately after Condoleezza Rice visits China; Reuters"Koizumi has Impression N. Korea to Return to Talks"NYT 08 Jul 05; Reuters "Rice on Mission to Salvage NKorea Nuclear Talks"NYT 08 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley"Rice Has No Plans to Improve Offer to North Korea in Arms Talks"NYT 08 Jul 05; Reuters"North Korea Agrees to Return to Nuclear Talks"NYT 09 Jul 05; AP"N. Korea Agrees to Rejoin Six - Nation Talks"NYT 09 Jul 05:-negotiations "will resume 25 Jul, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said"; AP"North Korea to Resume 6 - Nation Nuke Talks"NYT 09 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley & David E.Sanger"North Koreans Agree to Resume Nuclear Talks"NYT 09 Jul 05; Reuters"U.S., Japan Seek Results From Korea Talks"NYT 10 Jul 05; Reuters "Six - Country Talks Aimed at Nuclear - Free N.Korea"NYT 10 Jul 05:-key points, described briefly: THE BEGINNING AND THE ROUNDS; GIVE AND TAKE; WHAT NORTH KOREA ASKED FOR; U.S. DEMANDS; BREAKDOWN; Choe Sang-Hun"South Korea Welcomes Return to Disarmament Talks"IHT 10 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley & David E.Sanger"Rice Says Nuclear Talks With North Koreans Are 'Only a Start'"10 Jul 05; AP "Rice Calls Talks With North Korea 'Only a Start'"NYT 10 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley"Setting the Table for North Korea's Return"NYT 10 Jul 02:-"Rice reiterated that US would not sweeten the offer laid on the table more than a year ago. 'We are not talking about enhancement of the current proposal'"; AP"Protesters, Police Clash in South Korea"NYT 10 Jul 04:-demonstrations pro and con the relocation of US troops; Reuters"N. Korea May Divert Focus of Talks - S.Korea Media"NYT 10 Jul 05; Reuters"S.Korea Urges North's Worries to Be Met at Talks"NYT 11 Jul 05; AP"North Korea Links Nukes to U.S. Threats"NYT 11 Jul 05:-"North Korea said [11 Jul] it does not need nuclear weapons if it is not threatened by US"; Reuters"Rice, Japan Map Strategy for North Korean Talks"NYT 11 Jul 05; AP"Two Koreas Agree on Cooperation, Rice Aid" NYT 11 Jul 05; Reuters"S.Korea to Give 500,000 Tons of Rice to North"NYT 11 Jul 05; AP"Rice Supports Food Aid to North Korea"NYT 12 Jul 05:-"Rice"in both duplicatory homonymic senses!!; Reuters"Rice in Seoul for N.Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 12 Jul 05; AP"U.S. Urges N. Korea to Abandon Atomic Arms"NYT 12 Jul 05; Reuters"North, South Korea to Hold Military Talks on Border"NYT 12 Jul 05:-aim: to try to build trust; Reuters"U.S., Japan Say N.Korea Must End Nuclear Ambitions"NYT 12 Jul 05; AP"Rice Warns North Korea Talks May Fail"NYT 12 Jul 05; Reuters"S.Korea Says Offered to Supply North Electricity"NYT 12 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley"South Korea Offers to Trade Electricity for North's Disarmament"NYT 12 Jul 05; Nicholas D.Kristof"Behind Enemy Lines"NYT 12 Jul 05:-influential NYT OP-ED writer concludes from North Korean capital Pyongyang:"Mr. Bush's refusal to engage North Korea directly is making the peninsula steadily more dangerous. More than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, we are on a collision course with a nuclear power"; AP"N. Korea Urged to Abandon Weapons Program"NYT 12 Jul 05; Reuters"South Korea Offers Energy Aid to North"NYT 12 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley"South Korea Offers a Trade for North's Disarmament"NYT 12 Jul 05; AP"Rice Praises Proposal of Energy Aid to North Korea"NYT 13 Jul 05; Reuters"Rice Optimistic N. Korea Talks Can Bear Fruit"NYT 13 Jul 05; AP"Kim Jong Il Wants Nuclear - Free Korea"NYT 13 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley"South Korea Offers Power if North Quits Arms Program"NYT 13 Jul 05; Joel Brinkley"Rice Claims U.S. Role in Korean About-Face"NYT 13 Jul 05; Reuters "South Korea, Japan, U.S. Discuss Extending Talks"NYT 14 Jul 05; AP"Envoys Meet Ahead of Korea Nuclear Talks"NYT 14 Jul 05; Reuters"Tough N.Korea Verification Needed - Atomic Expert"NYT 14 Jul 05; Reuters"U.S. Wants Progress From N. Korea in July 25 Talks"NYT 14 Jul 05; Henry A.Kissinger"Henry Kissinger on U.S. Foreign Policy"Council on Foreign Relations via NYT 14 Jul 05:-major interview to determine former US Secretary of State's views on the most serious global problems facing US. Official summary of interview stresses:"[H]e states Iran's program is more worrisome than the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons". Reuters"N.Korea Wants Progress at Nuclear Talks - EU Envoy"NYT 15 Jul 05; Economist 16 Jul 05"Dealing With North Korea: The Truant's Return"(37-8):-survey of difficult prospects; Nicholas D.Kristof"A Sucker Bet"NYT 17 Jul 05:-OP-ED writer this time analyses whether North Korean regime is likely to collapse, and concludes that its people's lack of information about their relative poverty makes immediate instability unlikely; AP"Gen. MacArthur Statue Spawns Korea Protest"NYT 17 Jul 05:-memorial honors"UN"military leader against North Korean 1950 invasion. Struggle between"pro" and"con"demonstrators gives evidence at least some South Koreans feel generally against US; Reuters "North Korea Nuclear Talks to Start July 26 - Daily"NYT 17 Jul 05; AP"North Korea May Demand More Concessions"NYT 18 Jul 05; AP"N.Korea Seeks U.S. Agreement at Nuke Talks"NYT 18 Jul 05; Reuters "Two Koreas Get Wired for Video Family Reunions"NYT 18 Jul 05; Reuters"N.Korea Seeks U.S. Trust at Nuclear Talks"NYT 18 Jul 05; AP"Top UN Envoy to North Korea Loses Post"NYT 18 Jul 05:-Maurice Strong ceases role "as top UN envoy to North Korea amid questions about his connection to a suspect in UN oil-for-food scandal" with Iraq; Reuters"Japan to Seek N. Korea Nuclear Energy Ban - Report"NYT 18 Jul 05:-press also contends China sympathetic to Pyongyang's insistence that it be allowed to retain nuclear energy program; Nicholas D.Kristof"Remember the Pueblo"NYT 19 Jul 05:-item recalls that North Korea seized US Navy ship off its east coast in 1968, and in 1999 it was "opened triumphantly to crowds in Pyongyang"; Reuters"Six - Party N.Korea Nuclear Talks to Start July 26"NYT 19 Jul 05; AP"N. Korea to Resume Nuke Disarmament Talks"NYT 19 Jul 05; Reuters"Treat N.Korea Rights Like Old USSR, Archivists Say"NYT 19 Jul 05:-item reports views on tactics, offered by US-sought activists' meeting; Reuters"North, South Koreas Hold Military Talks on Border"NYT 20 Jul 05:-aim is to reduce bilateral tension just before six-member meeting; Reuters"No Role for Japan at Six - Party Talks - N.Korea"NYT 20 Jul 05:-North is annoyed by Japanese intention to raise bilateral kidnapping issues at meeting; AP"N. Korea Expects Little Progress at Talks"NYT 20 Jul 05:-pessimism also relates to Japanese intention; Reuters "N.Korea Snubs Japan on Talks at Asia Meeting - Kyodo"NYT 20 Jul 05:-Japan also wants to raise kidnap issue "on sidelines of annual ASEAN Regional Forum"; Reuters"Japanese Abductees Haunt N.Korea Nuclear Talks"NYT 20 Jul 05; AP"N. Korea: Agreement May Settle Standoff"NYT 21 Jul 05; Reuters"N.Korea: Peace Treaty Key to Resolve Nuclear Issue"NYT 21 Jul 05:-1950-3 Korean War was ended only by cease-fire/armistice; Jim Yardley & Joseph Kahn"North Korea Ties New Issue to 50's War"NYT 22 Jul 05; Reuters "North Korea Says Peace Treaty Key to Nuclear Issue"NYT 22 Jul 05:-later version gives more background; AP"N. Korea Offers to Abandon Nuke Weapons"NYT 22 Jul 05:-again reference to a peace treaty; AP "Japanese Parliament Backs Missile Bill"NYT 22 Jul 05:-"Tokyo has become increasingly concerned about dangers posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs"; The Economist 23 Jul 05"US and China: Sizing Up the Dragon"(28):-"The Pentagon wonders whether China may threaten more than Taiwan... [But US] administration faces difficult negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program, in which China is playing a central role... [Hence] a spat over China's perceived military ambitions was the last thing the administration wanted; Reuters"Japan May Advance Missile Shield Deployment - Paper"NYT 23 Jul 05; AP"North Korea Won't Hold Japan Nuke Talks"NYT 23 Jul 05:-"not clear from editorial carried by North's official KCNA whether North was refusing to attend talks... if they include Japan - or if it was saying it did not want to meet with Japanese officials on sidelines of talks as Tokyo has suggested"; AP"Officials Attempt to End N.Korean Impasse"NYT 23 Jul 05:-"[A] more freewheeling atmosphere is expected this time with much more room for informal give-and-take. There will be less hesitation about direct US talks with North Koreans"; AP"Taku Urges Diplomacy in N.Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 24 Jul 05:-reference to Japan raising kidnapping issue was made during TV statement by former LDP vice-president; but he admitted pressing of this issue should not threaten discussion of key nuclear issue; Reuters "North, South Korea Want Progress in Six - Party Talks" NYT 24 Jul 05:-two delegations met in Beijing prior to conference, and hoped to see"substantial progress" at "ending Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons"and participants coming up with "framework for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula"; AP"U.S.: Korea Nuke Talks Going to Take Time"NYT 24 Jul 05:-top US delegate to conference, Christopher Hill, admits it is unlikely to be last meeting. Item also summarizes recent positions by Koreas; Reuters"Two Koreas Call for Substantial Progress at Talks"NYT 24 Jul 05:-item notes variety of issues faced, including Japanese; Nicholas D.Kristof"Where the Right Is Right"NYT 24 Jul 05:-with his visit to North Korea completed, OP-ED writer provides complex examples of both awful and encouraging conditions. Essence of conclusions is that US policies should be more active in seeking regime improvements; Douglas Jehl & David E.Sanger "North Korea Nuclear Goals: Case of Mixed Signals"NYT 24 Jul 05:-major article includes sections titled: "Fears About a Nuclear Test"; "Plans for an Arsenal"; "Sounding an Alarm"; "Assessing the Intelligence"; "Warnings by the Allies"; Reuters"U.S. Tells N.Korea Liaison Office Possible - Kyoto"NYT 24 Jul 05; Christopher Buckley"On Eve of Talks, U.S. Holds Talks With North Korea"IHT in NYT 25 Jul 05; AP"U.S., N. Korean Envoys Hold Rare Meeting"NYT 25 Jul 05; Reuters"U.S., N. Korea Envoys Meet on Eve of Talks"NYT 25 Jul 05; AP"Peninsula Key at North Korea Talks"NYT 25 Jul 05; Reuters"N.Korea Crisis Talks Resume with Hope for Progress"NYT 26 Jul 05; Jim Yardley & David E.Sanger"U.S. and North Korean Envoys Meet Ahead of 6-Nation Nuclear Talks" NYT 26 Jul 05; Jim Yardley & Chris Buckley"U.S. Reassures North Korea at Opening of 6-Party Talks"NYT 26 Jul 05:-"top US negotiator stating that US recognized sovereignty of North Korean government as a 'matter of fact' and had 'absolutely no intention' of launching a military attack against the Stalinist regime"; AP"North Korea Joins 6-Party Talks, Ending 13-Month Boycott"NYT 26 Jul 05; AP"U.N.: N.Koreans Scavenging for Food"NYT 26 Jul 05:-WFP believes about one in three North Koreans are chronically malnourished. WFP food stockpiles have"very little"left , and US-promised 50,000 tons of cereals not expected to arrive for three months; Jim Yardley & David E. Sanger"U.S. Tries a New Approach in Talks With North Korea"NYT 26 Jul 05:-"Bush administration appeared to show signs of new flexibility in talks with North Korea [26 Jul, with] diplomats meeting at length to discuss delicate question of how aid or energy assistance may be provided to North as it begins process of dismantling its nuclear weapons program"; Reuters"N.Korea Crisis Talks Enter Day Two, Mood Upbeat" NYT 26 Jul 05; Reuters"Another Setback for ASEAN as China Snubs Forum"NYT 27 Jul 05:-"resumption in Beijing of six-way talks... - an issue that has always dominated [ASEAN Regional Forum] meetings... - has also pushed the forum into the background"; Reuters"N.Korea Digs in on Day Two of Nuclear Crisis Talks" NYT 27 Jul 05:-main issue is which party agrees to move first; AP"Report: North Korea Sets Nuclear Demands"NYT 27 Jul 05; Chris Buckley"South Korea Proposes Aid to North as It Disarms"NYT 27 Jul 05; AP"Report: N. Korea Makes Demands of U.S." NYT 27 Jul 05:-substantially different from previous AP Report; Reuters"N.Korea Talks Creep Into Third Day, Little Consensus"NYT 27 Jul 05; Mary Crane"Q&A: North Korean Disarmament Talks"Council on Foreign Relations 27 Jul 05:-questions addressed: What is the current status of disarmament negotiations with North Korea?; How long will the talks continue?; What is the US position?; What does North Korea want?; What is the state of US-North Korean relations?; What is the nuclear threat from North Korea?; What nuclear programs does North Korea have?; What is the recent history of North Korean nuclear program?; Did North Korea abide by the terms of the Agreed Framework?; What is known about North Korea's plutonium program?; What is known about the uranium-enrichment program?; Does North Korea have enough equipment yet to make a uranium-based nuclear bomb?; How good is US intelligence on North Korea's nuclear capabilities?; Has North Korea sold or transferred nuclear materials?; Jim Yardley "North Korea Seeks U.S. Aid Before It Halts Its Nuclear Program"NYT 27 Jul 05; Reuters"N.Korea Talks in 3rd Day as Parties Seek Consensus"NYT 27 Jul 05; AP"North Korean Defectors Detained in China"NYT 28 Jul 05; AP"U.S., N. Korean Envoys Hold Third Meeting"NYT 28 Jul 05:-differing texts issued but with same title; Reuters"N.Korea Talks to Stretch to Day Four, Gulf Remains" NYT 28 Jul 05; AP"U.S. Rules Out Bilateral N. Korea Talks"NYT 28 Jul 05; Jim Yardley"U.S. Expresses Cautious Optimism in Tough Talks With North Korea"NYT 28 Jul 05; Reuters"Japan, N.Korea May Hold Bilateral Talks Fri - Report"NYT 28 Jul 05; David E.Sanger & Jim Yardley"U.S. Offers North Korea Evidence That Nuclear Secrets Came From Pakistani's Network"NYT 28 Jul 05; Reuters"N.Korea, U.S. Meet[sic] to Bridge Gap on Nuclear Crisis"NYT 28 Jul 05; AP"U.S., N. Korea Hold Longest Meeting Yet"NYT 28 Jul 05; Chris Buckley"U.S. and North Korean Envoys Continue Talks"NYT 29 Jul 05; Reuters"N.Korea, U.S. Seek[sic] to Bridge Gap on Nuclear Crisis"NYT 29 Jul 05; Reuters"Reclusive North Korea on ASEAN Charm Campaign"NYT 29 Jul 05:-active and positive role towards other delegations by North Korean FM during conference in Vientiane, Laos; AP "U.S., N. Korea Differ on Nuclear Policy"NYT 29 Jul 05:-"still divided over the issue of when the North will receive aid in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons program". Yet this is longest round since six-nation process began; previous rounds lasted only three days, and no end date for this round has been set; Chris Buckley"6 Nations Work on Principles for North Korean Nuclear Talks"NYT 29 Jul 05; AP"North Korea Nuclear Talks Reach 4th Day"NYT 29 Jul 05; Reuters"North Korea Nuclear Talks Enter Unchartered Territory"NYT 29 Jul 05:-reference is to drafting joint statement; AP"U.S. Envoy Says Korea Statement in Works"NYT 29 Jul 05:-draft still to be started; Economist 30 Jul 05"North Korea: A Glimmer of Hope?"(39):-"Pyongyang lists conditions for scrapping its nuclear program. [ I]n return for scrapping its own projects, it is now asking Americans for nuclear concessions. As country that has declared itself nuclear power, North Korea wants to be treated like one"; AP"China Offers Draft Statement at Nuke Talks"NYT 30 Jul 05; Reuters"Envoys Positive on Chinese Draft at N. Korea Talks"NYT 30 Jul 05:-draft to hence be worked on is not expected to include more than targets, i.e. not how they are to be achieved yet; Jim Yardley"U.S. and North Korea Meet At 6-Nation Talks"NYT 30 Jul 05:-draft to be worked on suggested to be just "broad statement of shared principles"; Reuters"Chinese Draft at Center of N.Korea Nuclear Talks"NYT 30 Jul 05; Reuters"North Korea Nuclear Talks Struggle with Statement"NYT 30 Jul 05; Jim Yardley"U.S. and North Korea Meet at 6-Nation Nuclear Talks"NYT 30 Jul 05:-reference is to bilateral seesions; AP"N. Korea Nuke Talks Focus on Draft Accord" NYT 31 Jul 05; Reuters"Envoys Clash as Korea Nuclear Talks Seek Consensus"NYT 31 Jul 05; Reuters "Korea Nuclear Talks Struggle Over Joint Statement"NYT 31 Jul 05; AP"China Proposes New Draft at Nuke Talks"NYT 31 Jul 05; Reuters"China, U.S. Launch Strategic Dialogue in Beijing"NYT 31 Jul 05:-aim of dialogue is "to try to keep their increasingly complex relationship on even keel as friction rises over a range of issues... Beijing and Washington cooperate in many areas, including six-party talks to try to defuse North Korean nuclear crisis"; Chris Buckley"Seoul to Offer Electricity as Reward if North Korea Ends Nuclear Work"NYT 01 Aug 05; AP"China Proposes New Draft at Nuke Talks"NYT 01 Aug 05:-US envoy said "China has proposed new draft of joint statement after weekend discussions were snarled by North's demands for what it should receive in exchange for disarming"; Jim Yardley"Day 7 of Talks Yields No Progress on North Korea's Nuclear Effort"NYT 01 Aug 05; AP"Korean Nuclear Talks Turn Pessimistic" NYT 01 Aug 05; Reuters"North Korea Negotiators Battle Over Draft Statement"NYT 01 Aug 05; AP "Delegates Pessimistic on Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 01 Aug 05; Editorial"Ambassador Bolton"NYT 02 Aug 05:-editor expressed regret that President Bush has appointed controversial John Bolton as ambassador to UN without even getting approval of Senate. "If there's a positive side to... appointment... it's that as long as Bolton is in New York he will not be wreaking diplomatic havoc anywhere else. Talks with North Korea, for instance, have been looking more productive since Bolton left State Department"; AP"N. Korea Sets Conditions for Disarmament"NYT 02 Aug 05; Reuters"N.Korea Talks Stall, U.S. Envoy Seeks Time - Out" NYT 02 Aug 05:-"Top US negotiator... said [02 Aug] it was time for the parties to take a breather and mull what progress had been made in more than a week of wrangling"; Chris Buckley"U.S. Envoy Say Talks on North Korea May End in Dispute"International Herald Tribune via NYT 02 Aug 05:-"Six-nation talks... may take a break or even end in dispute if the participants cannot settle on a summary of principles for future disarmament talks, US chief negotiator, Christopher Hill, said today"; AP "N. Korea Talks May End Without Agreement"NYT 02 Aug 05:-"Main US envoy said talks were nearing their conclusion -- possibly within days -- with delegates from six countries set to submit final comments [03 Aug] on a draft proposed by China for a statement of principles to guide future arms negotiations"; Reuters"China in Last - Ditch Bid to Save Nuclear Talks"NYT 02 Aug 05:-"[H]osts put forward fourth draft of proposed statement on which the success of the talks... is now riding. South Korean Deputy FM... said latest draft contained statements on dismantling of North Korea's nuclear programs and corresponding measures by the other countries"; AP"U.S. Nuclear Envoy: Talks Nearing End"NYT 03 Aug 05:-"Delegates [said] they were approaching the final stages of discussions but that resolution to dispute over the communist nation's nuclear weapons program ultimately lay in its own hands"; Reuters"North Korea Crisis Talks Tottering in No Man's Land" NYT 03 Aug 05:-"Six-party efforts to resolve a crisis over North Korea's nuclear ambitions tottered into a 10th day on [04 Aug] with Beijing battling to persuade Pyongyang to sign up to an agreement to end its weapons programs"; Jim Yardley"U.S. and Allies Await North Korea's Next Move at Nuclear Talks"NYT 03 Aug 05; AP"Envoy to Korea: D.C. Has Done All It Can"NYT 03 Aug 05:-"Senior Chinese officials tried to persuade North Korea to accept draft statement during unusual late-night session at Chinese government guesthouse, said US envoy"; Reuters"N.Korea Holding Out at Marathon Nuclear Talks"NYT 04 Aug 05:-"[T]alks appeared running out of steam, with China flagging possibility that six parties would wind up without even joint statement"; AP"N. Korea Seeks Peaceful Nuclear Activities"NYT 04 Aug 05:-"condition other delegates say has deadlocked talks"; Jim Yardley & Chris Buckley"Talks on North Korea to Continue for Another Day"NYT 04 Aug 05; Reuters"Accord Hopes Dim on Day 11 of North Korea Talks"NYT 05 Aug 05:-"Gruelling talks aimed at defusing a crisis over North Korea's neutral ambitions were deadlocked after their 11th day on[05 Aug], with Pyongyang still demanding the right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program... A fourth round without agreement would call the entire talks process into question - an outcome which could prompt Washington to take the issue to UN Security Council"; AP"N. Korea Challenged on Nuclear Insistence"NYT 05 Aug 05:-"Chief US envoy to North Korea disarmament talks expressed disappointment with negotiations [05 Aug] as he challenged Pyongyang's insistence on retaining a peaceful nuclear program, pointing to its record of converting a research reactor for weapons use"; Reuters"Deadlocked N.Korea Talks Limp Into 12th Day"NYT 05 Aug 05; AP"U.S. Envoy: N. Korean Talks 'Excruciating'"NYT 05 Aug 05:-"Washington and Pyongyang scheduled a meeting to discuss how to speed up the process"; Reuters"Stalled N.Korea Talks Seen Taking Recess"NYT 06 Aug 05:-"[W]eary negotiators said they were preparing for a recess that will allow them to return home for consultations"; AP"Japan Envoy: N. Korean Talks Could Recess"NYT 06 Aug 05:-"Diplomats said talks deadlocked over the North's insistence on retaining a peaceful nuclear program and the question of what it would get for giving up its atomic arms program"; Reuters"U.S. Split on Nuclear Energy for Iran, North Korea"NYT 06 Aug 05:-"US has taken opposite positions in each case over the question of peaceful atomic energy"; AP "Korea Talks Could Be Suspended, China Says"NYT 06 Aug 05; Reuters"Six Parties Agree to Recess N.Korea Talks: China"NYT 06 Aug 05; AP"North Korea Talks Recessing, China Says"NYT 06 Aug 05; Reuters"Six Parties to Recess N.Korea Crisis Talks - China"NYT 07 Aug 05; Reuters"Envoys to N.Korea Nuclear Talks Take 3 - Week Recess"NYT 07 Aug 05:-"Despite the gulf, host nation China insisted there was progress"; AP"North Korean Disarmament Talks Suspended"NYT 07 Aug 05:-"North Korea's chief envoy,... told reporters the disagreement over 'peaceful nuclear activity' was one of the very important elements that led us to fail to come up with an agreement"; AP"6 Nations' Stances in N. Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 07 Aug 05:-brief 2-3 line summaries of each country's main concern; Jim Yardley"North Korea Nuclear Talks Go Into a 3-Week Recess"NYT 07 Aug 05; AP"Chairman's Statement After Nuclear Talks"NYT 07 Aug 05:-Issued by host China: "The first phase of the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks was held in Beijing from July 26th to August 7th. The six parties, in the spirit of mutual respect and equality, held serious, practical and in-depth discussions and consultations in a good atmosphere on the goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which led to better mutual understanding, broader common ground and positive progress. They reaffirmed that the goal of the Six-Party Talks is the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful manner and agreed to issue a common paper to this end. The six parties conducted in-depth and useful discussions on the paper and reached agreement on many aspects. They decided to have a brief recess so that the delegations can go back to report to their respective governments, further study each other's positions and resolve differences which still exist. During the recess, the parties will continue mutual communication and consultation. The fourth round of the Six-Party Talks will resume in the week starting from August 29, 2005, at a date to be agreed upon. The six parties reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the Six-Party Talks process"; Jim Yardley"U.S. and North Korea Blame Each Other for Nuclear Stalemate"NYT 07 Aug 05:-"North Korea and US today each blamed the other after nearly two weeks of six-nation negotiations ended in deadlock, with each side saying the other must budge on the issue of 'peaceful use' nuclear programs if any deal is eventually going to be made"; AP"U.S., N. Korea Seek Concessions" NYT 07 Aug 05:- "US and North Korea urged each other [7 Aug] to make concessions as envoys to disarmaments talks called a three-week recess, deadlocked over what US envoy said was the North's demand for a nuclear power plant"; Charles L.(Jack)Pritchard"Q&A: Were the Six-Party Talks with North Korea a Success?"Council on Foreign Relations 08 Aug 05:-interview with "a former top US negotiator with North Korea, who quit State Department in protest against Bush administration's reluctance to deal directly with North Korea[.It reports he]says there has been a major change in US policy toward Pyongyang since Condoleezza Rice became Secretary of State". He gives"major importance to...appointment of career diplomat Christopher Hill to head US team at talks in Beijing".Changes in US position"have resulted in first true set of negotiations... A great deal has been accomplished. It has laid the groundwork. If there is going to be a diplomatic resolution, this is the path on which you will find it'"; David D.Kirkpatrick"Christian Groups Press Bush About North Korea"NYT 08 Aug 05:-reports on "growing movement by conservative Christian groups to press White House on human rights in North Korea, much the way they drew attention to civil war in Sudan and kept pressure on Bush after his first days in office"; Reuters"N.Korea Food Shortage Growing Serious - WFP Chief"NYT 09 Aug 05:-"people in North Korea are foraging for nuts and leaves to counter a serious food shortage but there is no danger of widespread famine or salvation, head of UN World Food Program said; AP"North Korea Still Facing Food Shortages"NYT 09 Aug 05:-"WFP tries to feed about 6.5m North Koreans - more than a quarter of population"; Joel Brinkley"North Korea Says U.S. Alone Is Holding Up 6-Nation Talks"NYT 09 Aug 05; AP"U.S. Envoy Unsure if Nuclear Deal Likely"NYT 09 Aug 05; AP"Roh Urges Seoul's Mediation in Nuke Talks"NYT 10 Aug 05:-South Korean president asked his negotiators "to actively mediate during three-week recess" and "try to seek a compromise before they reconvene"; Reuters"North, South Korea Set Up Military Hotlines"NYT 10 Aug 05; Reuters"Seoul to Lobby Peaceful Nuclear Program for North"NYT 10 Aug 05; Brian Knowlton"U.S. Envoy to North Korean Talks Sounds Note of Optimism"International Herald Tribune via NYT 10 Aug 05; Reuters"U.S. Says No Need for N.Korea Civil Nuclear Program"NYT 10 Aug 05; AP"S. Korea: Peaceful Nukes in North Are OK" NYT 11 Aug 05; Reuters"South Korea, China to Discuss North Korea Nuclear Crisis"NYT 11 Aug 05; AP "American Trys to Feed Needy in N. Korea"NYT 12 Aug 05:-"since mid-90s, North Korea has depended on foreign aid - mainly from US, Japan and South Korea - to feed its 23 million people"; Reuters"U.S. - S.Korea War Games Prelude to War: N.Korea Army"NYT 13 Aug 05:-"At a senior military officers meeting on [12 Aug], South and North Korea failed to reach agreement on setting up a meeting of generals from the two sides to ease military tensions. In a separate KCNA report, North said it was 'not suitable' for such a meeting to take place because of military drills by US and South Korea"; AP"N. Korea Warns Against Military Exercises"NYT 13 Aug 05; Economist 13 Aug 05"North Korea and Iran: Too Late To Stop Their Nukes?"(Edit.12); North Korea: Now What?"(34):-Editorial stresses"biggest worry is that nuclear weapons will proliferate, especially in countries that might... pass them on to terrorists and other undesirables... If North Korea, which hints it already has a rudimentary bomb ...were to test one, Japan might be tempted to match it." However, it suggests:"China may be better placed than the West to do some last-ditch dissuading". It has "most leverage over North Korea: it could, literally, switch its lights off" and should not veto UNSC sanctions if DPRK/Iranian nuclear ambitions are not curbed. Other article concludes: "North Korea appears willing to entertain offers from US and South Korea of food assistance, energy aid and security guarantees in exchange for denuclearising. However, it may well conclude that a credible nuclear threat provides its only real means of deterring a potential US attack - which, no matter how often US promises it has no plans for one, it evidently fears. That calculation might survive any number of talks." Reuters"Two Koreas to Jointly Celebrate Liberation Day"NYT 13 Aug 05:-"North Korean officials were scheduled to visit South's national cemetery during their visit, where many of the remains of South Korea's war veterans are buried"; AP"N.Koreans Travel South to Honor War Dead"NYT 14 Aug 05; Reuters"U.S. Says No Need for N.Korea Civil Nuclear Program"NYT 15 Aug 05; Reuters"N.Koreans to Have Unprecedented Talks with South's MPs"NYT 15 Aug 05; AP"North Koreans Visit South's Legislature"NYT 16 Aug 05; Reuters"North Korean Officials Visit South's Legislature"NYT 16 Aug 05; AP"Report: N. Korea May Return to Nuke Treaty"NYT 17 Aug 05:-President Kim Jong Il told Russian envoy that North Korea "could return to Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty if US stops threatening it"; Reuters"N.Korean Communists Meet South's President"NYT 17 Aug 05:-"highest-ranking North Koreans to visit presidential office in more than a decade"; Reuters"US Seeks N.Korea Contact Before Next Nuclear Talks"NYT 17 Aug 05:-"US has made contact with North Korea as part of its preparations for six-party talks later this month"; Reuters"N.Korea Needs to Build Trust on Nuclear Issue - Roh"NYT 18 Aug 05:-"South Korea's president has said he supports principle of countries having right to peaceful nuclear programs but North Korea needs to build international trust on this issue, presidential spokesman said [19 Aug]; Elisabeth Bumiller "Bush Names Special Envoy for Rights in North Korea"NYT 19 Aug 05:-"Bush named Jay Lefkowitz to be his special envoy for human rights in North Korea. President's religious conservative supporters aggressively sought appointment. [C]ould aggravate relations...at nuclear disarmament talks. [T]here was concern within some parts of administration that pressuring North Korea on human rights could derail the talks... Lefkowitz will work with UN and international groups to raise awareness about North Korean abuses. [A]dministration officials have said that any deal on North Korea's nuclear weapons program would have to include progress on human rights"; Reuters"South, North Korea Reach Agreement in Farm Talks"NYT 19 Aug 05:-"South agreed to provide farming technology and to set up joint agricultural projects with North to ease chronic food shortages there that stem from communist state's beleaguered farm sector... Seoul also agreed to provide fertilizer, pesticides as well as new equipment [and] 500,000 tons of rice to North Korea this year"; Reuters"South Korea Say on Same Page as U.S. On Nuke Talks"NYT 21 Aug 05:-"[FM] Ban [Ki-moon] told CNN the view of South Korea was that once North Korea dismantled its nuclear weapons program, signed on to nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty(NPT) and abided by IAEA safeguards, the issue of peaceful means [i.e. use of nuclear energy] could be discussed again... Ban said he was 'more or less optimistic' the next round of negotiations had a chance of success, but no time frame had been set"; AP"U.S., S.Korea Start Military Exercises"NYT 22 Aug 05:-"US and South Korean forces kicked off annual computer-simulated military exercises. [D]rills come at a sensitive time, a week ahead of scheduled resumption of international talks... North Korea characterized this year's exercises as 'fraught with greater danger of invasion as they are scheduled to take place at a time when US war preparations have reached their final phase'"; James Brooke"Red Cross Officials to Discuss P.O.W.'s Still Alive in North Korea"NYT 19 Aug 05:-meeting is "to discuss fate of about 1,000 prisoners of war and civilian abductees believed to be alive in North Korea... After the end of the Korean War, North Korea tried to ease a labor shortage by secretly holding back thousands of South Korean prisoners of war... South Korean defense minister [reported] that 542 South Korean prisoners of war are still alive... Separately, South Korea's government has said that during past year, North Korea has seized 486 civilians from the South, largely fishermen"; AP"North, South Korea Red Crosses Meet"NYT 23 Aug 05:-"Red Cross societies [23 Aug] began three days of talks expected to focus on hundreds of South Korean POWs and abductees believed held in North Korea... Two sides each proposed an agenda focused on expanding reunions of separated families... But both careful not to use the words POWs and abductees"; Reuters"China, Japan to Discuss North Korea Nuclear Crisis"NYT 23 Aug 05:-item offers summary of bilateral meetings taking place before six-nation meeting reconvenes during week of 29 Aug"; AP"Nations Make Progress in N. Korea Talks"NYT 23 Aug 05:-"While the Bush administration seeks to portray a united front with South Korea, Japan, China and Russia on the six-party talks, several of the US partners seem more inclined to compromise [regarding North Korean civilian nuclear energy]. Administration, meanwhile, is urging China to put more pressure on Pyongyang"; Steven R.Weisman "State Dept. Pushes for Return of North Korea to Negotiations"NYT 23 Aug 05:-"Bush administration stepped up its diplomacy [23 Aug] to ensure North Korea returns to talks next week aimed at dismantling nuclear programs, but top US negotiator said there was no sign yet that North was willing to make deal"; AP"U.S. Envoy Says N. Korea Received Offer" NYT 23 Aug 05:-"Chief US negotiator Christopher Hill said... US and its partners offered North Korea a package deal, including civilian energy supplies and a US promise not to attack, but were divided on whether North Korea should be permitted to retain a reactor to develop civilian nuclear energy." Item describes many very recent bilateral meetings and ideas; Reuters"N Korea Nuclear Talks Likely as Planned - China Envoy"NYT 24 Aug 05:-"Six-party talks... likely to resume next week as planned, China's top envoy to discussions said [24 Aug]... [S]enior South Korean official said optimistic about prospects... because Pyongyang presented with Washington's best-ever offer"; Salman Masood & David Rohde "Pakistan Now Says Scientist Did Send Koreans Nuclear Gear"NYT 24 Aug 05:-"Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, confirmed [23 Aug] for first time that Pakistani nuclear scientist provided North Korea with centrifuge machines that could be used to make fuel for atomic bomb, Japanese news agency reported. In interview with Kyodo News, Musharraf said former head of country's nuclear program, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, has sent 'centrifuges - parts and complete' to North Korea... 'I do not exactly remember the number'. Musharrah also said Khan might have sent North Korea uranium hexafluoride, which can be enriched in centrifuges, and complicate six-nation talks over North Korea's nuclear program... North Korean officials have denied having uranium enrichment program... but say they have made nuclear weapons fueled with plutonium"; Reuters"Pakistani Scientist Gave Atomic Machine to North Korea"NYT 24 Aug 05:-"Musharraf spoke in public for the first time about Khan's clandestine transfer of nuclear technology, Japanese agency reported"; AP"Musharraf: Scientist Gave N. Korea Designs"NYT 24 Aug 05:- Musharraf told Kyodo that while disgraced scientist's laboratory engaged in uranium enrichment, it was not involved in other key steps needed to make a nuclear bomb"; Reuters"China: Korea Nuclear Talks May Resume September 2"NYT 24 Aug 05:-Chinese Vice-FM Wu Dawei told Japanese politician,"We are considering [2 Sep]"; AP"North Korea Talks Could Start Sept. 2"NYT 25 Aug 05; AP"North Korea Rejects South's P.O.W. Reunion Plan"NYT 25 Aug 05:-"South Korea on [25 Aug] proposed family reunion for its prisoners of war and civilians,...but Pyongyang rejected offer during talks between Red Cross societies. Issue was a major snag at...meeting[but talks] continuing amid discussions about the alleged abductions"; Reuters"N.Korea Talks Next Week, Some Reports Say"NYT 25 Aug 05:-while Chinese top envoy optimistic "North Korean diplomatic source in Beijing [quoted] as saying talks were unlikely to resume next week"; Reuters"N.Korea Nuclear Talks Still on for Next Week - Japan"NYT 25 Aug 05; AP"6 - Nation Nuke Talks to Restart Next Week"NYT 26 Aug 05; Reuters"China, Japan Says North Korea Talks Set for Next Week"NYT 26 Aug 05:-"Status of the talks... had been up in the air with silence from all sides on a firm date to resume"; AP"Top Chinese Official to Visit North Korea"NYT 26 Aug 05:-official is Vice-FM Wu; Reuters"China Envoy to Visit N.Korea Before Talks Resume"NYT 27 Aug 05; AP"North Korea Blasts U.S. Envoy Appointment"NYT 27 Aug 05:-ref is to Jay Lefkowitz. See Bumiller item, 19 Aug 05; Reuters"China Wants N. Korea Talks as Security Forum - Paper"NYT 28 Aug 05:-"China has suggested that six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program could evolve into a permanent regional security forum, Japanese daily newspaper [Asahi Shimbun said 28 Aug]; Reuters"N.Korea Six - Party Talks Postponed, Says Thai Formin"NYT 28 Aug 05:-"North Korea[n FM] told visiting Thai FM it was unable to take part in six-party talks on its nuclear crisis scheduled for this week because 'trust and confidence' are lacking"; Reuters"N.Korea Says Not Ready for Nuclear Talks - Thai Min"NYT 28 Aug 05; AP"N. Korea Reactor Building Chief Quits"NYT 28 Aug 05:-"US executive director of the international consortium set up to build two nuclear power plants for North Korea as part of a deal to shut down its weapons program is stepping down this week"; AP"Report: N. Korea Wants Nuke Talks Delayed"NYT 28 Aug 05; Reuters "N.Korea Says 6 - Party Talks Could Resume Mid - Sept."NYT 29 Aug 05; Reuters"North Korea to Delay Return to Nuclear Talks"NYT 29 Aug 05:-"spokesman for North Korea's FM said Pyongyang thought it would be best to wait until after joint US-South Korean drills were over to resume nuclear discussions"... In Seoul,.. FM spokesman... said the talks were likely to resume after Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to US - due to begin 5 Sep"; AP"North Korea to Delay Return to Nuke Talks"NYT 29 Aug 05:-"North Korea said [29 Aug] it would delay by two weeks its return to nuclear talks, blaming the decision on US military exercises and Washington's appointment of a special envoy on human rights"; Thom Shanker"U.S. Banks on Technology in Revised Military Plan for a Possible North Korea Conflict"NYT 29 Aug 05:-"US commanders are making significant changes in their plans in the event of a military conflict with North Korea, to rely in large measure on a new generation of sensors, smart bombs and high-speed transport ships to deter and, if necessary, counter that unpredictable dictatorship, the senior US commander in South Korea says. The shift in strategy is being undertaken even as US cuts the number of troops here by one-third and begins moving the remaining soldiers farther from the demilitarized zone, to improve their chances of surviving any North Korean offensive"; Steven R.Weisman"North Korea Delays Resuming Talks on Ending Nuclear Programs"NYT 30 Aug 05:-"North Korea.. proposed to resume talks the week of 12 Sep... US State Department spokesman said US would be ready to return when North Koreans wanted and suggested that it did not appear that delay was caused by any problem in negotiations themselves... [Hill] said last week that it was not yet clear that North Korea had made fundamental decision to give up its civilian and military nuclear programs in return for benefits, but that North's negotiators had approached talks in serious and businesslike manner"; AP"U.S. Lawmakers Visit North Korea"NYT 30 Aug 05:-"'We are headed to Pyongyang to attempt to clarify remaining problems and urge North Korean government to return to talks in two weeks with a very positive outlook and approach'"; Reuters"Korea Nuclear Talks to Resume in Week of Sept 12 - China"NYT 30 Aug 05:-"China said [30 Aug] that six-way talks... would restart in Beijing in week of 12 Sep. [Also,] Chinese FM official said [30 Aug] the various parties, notably China, had taken advantage of recess to conduct extensive consultations"; Reuters"N.Korea Entitled to Nuclear Power Under NPT - China"NYT 01 Sep 05:-"North Korea will be entitled to peaceful nuclear power program if it fulfils its obligation under nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and accepts supervision, senior Chinese official said on [01 Sep]... 'According to relevant rules of NPT, a country could enjoy certain rights if it assumes due obligations', senior Chinese FM official Zhang Yan told news conference"; AP"S.Korea: North's Nuke Plans Not an Issue"NYT 01 Sep 05:-"South Korea's top diplomat said [01 Sep] that North Korea's professed desire for a peaceful nuclear program shouldn't become an issue that overshadows disarmament talks"; Reuters"Report Says N.Korea Abuses International Food Aid"NYT 01 Sep 05:-"US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea accused Pyongyang of hindering aid efforts by both foreign governments and NGOs to reach those who needed help most"; Reuters"Darkness Is Illuminating in North Korea"NYT 02 Sep 05:-item first describes heavy restraints on electricity made available to vast bulk of population. "North Korea has potential to generate about 7,800 megawatts of electricity, but fuel shortages have cut output to nearly a third, data from South Korean state agencies show. Shortage has kept more than two-thirds of its factories idle. Conversely, no power...spared on symbols/ceremonies central to history/ideology of communist state...or the few places foreigners allowed to visit...'We don't have enough coal nor water supplies to generate power' [North Korean official] said.'The solution is a peaceful nuclear program'. South Korean state firms said North had capacity to produce most of its power from hydroelectric plants with a combined generation potential of 4,810 megawatts. Seoul has offered to provide North with electrical supplies roughly equal to its current output if the impoverished state dismantles its nuclear arms programs"; AP"North Korea Envoy, U.S. Lawmakers Meet"NYT 02 Sep 05; "S.Korea to Take Over North Bomb Defense From U.S."NYT 02 Sep 05:-"South Korea will take over defense command against possible North Korean artillery attack from US military... Handover is part of a partial transfer of control over combined defense of the South against the North agreed between South Korean and US military last year... Anti-artillery defense command aims to intercept incoming attack from more than 13,000 North Korean artillery pieces. Many of the guns are deployed near Demilitarized Zone border and believed aimed at Seoul and key installations in the South"; Reuters"U.S. Lawmakers Tell N.Korea to End Nuclear Crisis"NYT 03 Sep 05:-"If the current round of six-party talks aimed at persuading Pyongyang to scrap its nuclear weapons program fails to bring results, US has said it may refer issue to UNSC"; Jim Yardley"Congressmen Tell North Korea to End Standoff" NYT 03 Sep 05:-"Congressmen... said they had urged North Korean officials to dispense with any belabored negotiating tactics and quickly agree on a statement of shared principles"; Reuters"U.S., N.Korea to Meet Ahead of Nuclear Talks - Report"NYT 03 Sep 05:-"Will hold talks in Beijing around 11 Sep, shortly before resumption of six-party talks... Japan's daily Mainichi Shimbun said... North Korea had apparently demanded the bilateral discussions as a pre-requisite for agreeing to resume six-way talks, Mainichi said"; AP"U.S. Officials Think North Korea Is Ready to Restart Disarmament Talks"NYT 03 Sep 05:-"[Lawmakers said] Pyongyang appears ready to return to disarmament talks as promised week of 12 Sep, but still wants a nuclear reactor - a key sticking point"; Economist 03 Sep 05"Special Report: America and China: The Dragon Comes Calling" (24-6):-in anticipation of (Katrina-delayed) visit to US by Chinese President Hu Jintao, this long article covers all the many aspects of Chinese-US relations. Its references to difficult North Korean negotiations make these points: 'As China sees it, current US Sinophobia is beginning to rival its preoccupation with terrorism... China now frets that its professed willingness to help fight global terrorism and resolve the nuclear crisis in North Korea is of limited value in keeping US happy... China's fear is that tensions could grow, jeopardising its access to its biggest overseas market and fuelling military rivalry, too... US and China are in harmony on one subject: both agree that North Korea is a menace. The two governments are working together to try to persuade Kim Jong Il, the North Korean despot, to give up the nuclear weapons that he claims - and most observers believe - he has. US official close to the stop-go six-party talks... on this issue says that China has been 'very helpful'. But China and US have different priorities. For US, disarming North Korea is top goal. For China, that comes second to making sure North Korea does not collapse and unleash even more refugees into China than it has already done. This is perhaps why government in Beijing has not used all levers at its disposal. Although it could shut off North Korea's oil supplies, it has only done so once, for three days in 2003... In the long term, there are three reasons why 'China threat' may be overstated. One is that, unlike the US government... China's ruling party is not trying to spread an ideology. It has none to spread... Second reason for calm is that... China's economic reforms may spur democratic ones... Third reason not to panic is that China's economic explosion cannot continue for ever, not least because one-child policy has probably doomed China to grow old before it gets rich"; AP"N.Korean Red Cross Offers Sympathy to U.S."NYT 04 Sep 05:-sympathy expressed to US Red Cross "over damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in a rare compassionate remark to US, which is viewed by communist state as the main enemy"; AP"North Korea Still Intends to Build Nuclear Reactors"NYT 04 Sep 05:-visiting US lawmakers' impression of North's attitude; Reuters"U.S. Congress Can Support N.Korea Policy Changes - Leach" NYT 04 Sep 05:-"Bush administration can find support in Congress for major US policy changes toward North Korea if a deal is struck on dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, a US congressman [just back from North Korea]said on 04 Sep"; Reuters"North Korea Says South Responsible for Trouble at Talks"NYT 04 Sep 05:-criticism relates to annual war games carried out by South Korean and US forces; Reuters"North Korea's Food Shortages Ease, Says Aid Agency"NYT 04 Sep 05:-"Foreign aid and a good harvest of food staples such as potatoes and wheat have helped ease North Korea's severe food shortage but aid is still needed, World Food Program said in a report"; AP"Anti - U.S. Rhetoric at N. Korean Restaurant"NYT 06 Sep 05:-"Pyongyang Restaurant [is] humble eatery in Russian Pacific city of Vladivostok, but staff is all direct from Pyongyang, as is rhetoric. 'We hate US', proprietor... said calmly in Russian on learning her customer was US. 'We want the South and North to be together and US shouldn't meddle; it should go'... In North Korea, she says, she was journalist... There's no sign of Kim personality cult that pervades North Korea... State-run North Korean restaurants have popped up in a few other countries across Asia whose governments are friendly to Pyongyang, but it's not known whether Pyongyang Restaurant is one of them"; AP"N. Korea May Resume Nuke Talks Sept. 13"NYT 06 Sep 05:-"North Korea has proposed to China that six-nation talks on elimination of its nuclear weapons program resume 13 Sep, according to news report [06 Sep]... North appeared to be sticking with its demand for a peaceful nuclear program, a key stumbling block"; Reuters"North Korea Wants Talks to Resume September 13 - Yonhap"NYT 06 Sep 05:-"South Korea's Yonhap news agency said... North made clear in comments published on [06 Sep] that it would press ahead with its plans for a civilian nuclear program"; Reuters"North Korea Nuclear Talks Likely Early Next Week: Seoul"NYT 06 Sep 05:- "Six-country talks... could accomplish progress, South Korea's foreign minister said... [T]here was no change to South Korea's position that North Korea must give up all its nuclear programs, he said"; Joel Brinkley"China Says North Korea Nuclear Talks Will Resume Tuesday"NYT 08 Sep 05:-"Six-nation talks... will resume [13 Sep], China said... Jay Lefkowitz.,.appointed special [US] envoy on human rights in North Korea, made first public appearance[08 Sep and raised concern that North could use] as a reason not to cooperate in disarmament talks"; Reuters"Six-Nation Talks on North Korea to Resume Next Week"NYT 08 Sep 05:-"Analysts say North Korea and US remain far apart on key issues, including Pyongyang's right to civilian nuclear program"; AP"Nations to Resume North Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 08 Sep 05:-"Pyongyang raised possible obstacle to progress by renewing its demands for withdrawal of US troops from Korean Peninsula"; AP"Envoy Speaks Out on North Korean Aid"NYT 08 Sep 05:-"Asked if... suggesting North Korea's human rights record be made a condition of receiving food aid, Lefkowitz replied: 'I think we need to take a look at the entire relationship'... Later, however, State Department spokesman [said:] 'We do not use food aid as a weapon. Decisions on such assistance are based on need and our ability to ensure that food will reach those for whom it is intended'"; Reuters"US Says Wants to Speak to North Korea on Rights"NYT 08 Sep 05:-"Lefkowitz... said he planned to 'directly engage' North Korean officials about human rights issues... 'I intend on trying every avenue I can to engage in a dialogue'"; AP"N.Korea Wants Development Help Over Food"NYT 09 Sep 05:-"North Korea wants World Food Program to shift focus of its aid from food supplies to development projects that would help communist nation feed itself, UN aid agency said... [WFP] in talks with government about 'terms of what we hope to be a continued presence in the country... Very obviously there is considerable humanitarian need still'... [Lefkowitz] suggested future US food aid might be linked to liberating political prisoners"; Reuters"US Promotes South Korea Electricity Offer for North"NYT 09 Sep 05:-"Although North insists any deal must recognize its right to a civilian nuclear energy program, [chief US negotiator] Hill said South Korea's offer to provide conventionally-generated electricity is best solution... 'We don't see any reason to go and develop additional capacity, especially through such very difficult and extremely expensive projects as nuclear energy', Hill added"; Reuters"Resumed N.Korea Nuclear Talks Likely to Be Tough"NYT 11 Sep 05:-"Six-party talks...open[13 Sep] in Beijing with Pyongyang having hardened its stance on its right to have civilian [nuclear] program - a key sticking point in discussions... Officials from the other parties say a peaceful nuclear program should be considered, if at all, after North Korea builds up trust with international community. For now, they fear such a project could be misused to make atomic weapons... North Korea...has said it will press ahead with plans for a civilian nuclear program, and US objections could harm the talks, which this time are set to last a week but could continue longer... South Korean official... said US would not agree to dusting off 1994 light-water reactor deal nor striking new agreement under which North gets international help to build light-water reactors...Optimism not universal, and analysts note failure to make progress at this set of talks could lead to pressure to refer matter to UNSC"; AP"U.S. Envoy to Meet S. Korean Officials"NYT 11 Sep 05:-"Top US negotiator to talks on North Korea's nuclear program will meet with South Korean officials [12 Sep] before six-nation negotiations resume"; AP"North Korea Nuclear Talks to Resume"NYT 12 Sep 05:-"Envoys to talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program will try again to resolve standoff as US resists demands by communist state for civilian nuclear reactors... Christopher Hill, top US negotiator to arms talks, reiterated set of measures... that he said would make it unnecessary for North Korea 'to go and develop additional capacity, especially through such very difficult and extremely expensive projects as nuclear energy'... North has said it could rejoin [NPT] if current standoff is resolved... South Koreans... have said North Korea would be able to pursue peaceful nuclear activities when it dismantles all its nuclear weapons programs, returns to NPT and complies fully with safeguards from UN nuclear watchdog. Chinese FM official also made similar comments"; Reuters"US Seeks Not to Focus on N.Korea Civilian Atom Plan"NYT 12 Sep 05:-"US ready to seek negtiated settlement at multilateral talks on dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, top US negotiator...said [12 Sep]... Hill said after his meeting with [South Korean minister] Chung that US and South Korea were on same page when it came to peaceful nuclear program issue. [Hill said North Korea] should seriously consider South Korea's sweetener offer to supply it with electricity. 'They (South Koreans) have rather ambitious/important conventional energy proposal'... [He also] said players has laid many of their cards on the table and upcoming discussions should move at relatively fast pace compared to the previous marathon session... China, however, tempered expectations,.. saying the six-party process would be long and breakthrough hard to achieve[;] main impediment to progress remained lack of trust between Washington and Pyongyang"; AP"Envoys Aim to End N. Korea Nuke Stalemate"NYT 12 Sep 05:-"[South Korean?] Analysts say North's insistence on peaceful nuclear program isn't a tactic aimed at stalling disarmament talks but a real concern of the regime as it tries to revive its economy"; Reuters"N.Korea Adamant on Nuclear Energy as Talks Resume"NYT 12 Sep 05:-North Korea clung to its right to a civilian nuclear program on [13 Sep] ahead of crisis talks in Beijing, a position that has barred progress toward ending a nearly three-year impasse over its ambitions"; AP"Talks Resume on N. Korea Nuclear Program"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"Negotiations...resumed [13 Sep] after monthlong recess, but prospects for progress were uncertain as Pyongyang remained insistent on its right to use civilian atomic technology... US officials have said the North's record proves it cannot be trusted with any atomic project"; Reuters"Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Arms Program Resume"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"Crisis talks on ending North Korea's nuclear arms program reopened under cloud of uncertainty [13 Sep] as Pyongyang insisted on its right to atomic energy in face of US opposition"; David E.Sanger "Pakistan Leader Confirms Nuclear Exports"NYT 13 Sep 05:-President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan said [12 Sep] that he believed that a Pakistani nuclear expert who ran world's largest proliferation ring exported 'probably a dozen' centrifuges to North Korea to produce nuclear weapons fuel. He added, however, that after two years of interrogations there was still no evidence about whether expert also gave North Korea a Chinese-origin design to build a nuclear weapon... A dozen centrifuges would not be enough to produce a significant amount of bomb-grade uranium. But US officials say they would have enabled North Korea to copy the design and build their own"; Reuters"N.Korea, US Still Far Apart as Nuclear Talks Reopen"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"Crisis talks on ending North Korea's nuclear arms program reopened under a cloud of uncertainty [13 Sep] as Pyongyang insisted on its right to atomic energy in face of US opposition"; Joseph Kahn"North Korea Talks Resume, Still in a Standoff"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"North Korea insisted [13 Sep] that it had the right to maintain a peaceful nuclear energy program after it dismantles its nuclear bombs, and that US must acknowledge that right in advance.... Some analysts say they fear that North Korea does not intend to give up its weapons program, which its leaders view as a cornerstone of their security and a bargaining chip to demand economic aid for its ailing economy... [Chief US envoy] Hill said that rather than focusing on how to reduce existing disagreement, North Koreans had added new obstacles. 'Their position seems to be evolving a little', he said... Washington has supported an offer by South Korea to build several nuclear or conventional power plants near its border with North Korea to provide energy if the North agrees to denuclearize... Peaceful use issue raises delicate questions for US because China, Russia and South Korea have all argued that they see no reason why North Korea cannot retain civilian nuclear plants. Only Japan has backed US position... In that way, North might escape blame for failure of talks while maintaining relatively cordial relations with its neighbours"; AP"Six - Nation N. Korea Nuke Talks Resume"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"In NY on [13 Sep] Chinese President Hu Jintao told President Bush that China was ready to 'step up' pressure on Pyongyang for progress in negotiations... Issue of North's peaceful nuclear program will be raised at the talks, but [US envoy] Hill emphasized the focus is on ridding North of atomic weapons... [H]e said 'their position does seem to be evolving a little', without elaborating"; Reuters"Talks on North Korea's Nuclear Arms Program Resume"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"Failure to reach an accord in Beijing could prompt Washington to take the issue to UNSC and press for sanctions. China opposes such a move and North Korea has said sanctions would be tantamount to war"; AP"Bush Packs in Busy Day of Diplomacy"NYT 13 Sep 05:-"President Bush won a pledge from Chinese President Hu Jintao to step up pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons...Bush questioned why Iran needs civilian nuclear power program... 'Nevertheless, its a right of a government to want to have a civilian nuclear program', Bush said. But he went on to say there must be guidelines and 'one such guideline would be in such a way that they don't gain the expertise necessary to be able to enrich'"; David E. Sanger"Bush Puts Iraq, China and Iran on Agenda"NYT 14 Sep 05:-"Bush's aides insisted... president was not... signaling a greater willingness to allow either Iran or North Korea to acquire what both have said is their right: control over the complete nuclear fuel cycle, the path to making fuel for either civilian reactors or weapons... But his comments were far milder than they were three years ago, when Bush first called Iran and North Korea part of an 'axis of evil'... Instead, Hu and Bush talked about ways to pressure North Korea to make... 'strategic decision' to give up its weapons programs. 'We have always stood for a nuclear-weapon-free Korean Peninsula', Hu said. Some administration officials say they are increasingly concerned that US and Tokyo are pursuing one approach, and Beijing and South Korea are pursuing another. US has made full disarmament of North Korea its priority. But both Chinese and South Koreans have spoken of the need to assure 'stability' in North Korea, a code word for making sure that North Korean government does not collapse"; AP"North Korea Demands Funds to Build Nuclear Reactor"NYT 14 Sep 05:-"Top US negotiator in six-nation talks... said [14 Sep] no progress was made toward resolving a standoff after his first meeting with Pyongyang's delegation... 'Neither US or any other participant is prepared to fund a light-water reactor'... Hill noted that North pursued nuclear program for 25 years and never used it for generating power but instead to create weapons-grade plutonium for atomic bombs. A light-water reactor would take as long as a decade to build and cost between $2b and $3b, Hill said. Instead, he said North should accept South Korean proposal to run power cables across the heavily militarized inter-Korean border and receive electricity in just a few years... A light-water reactor had been promised to North in a 1994 deal as part of a US aid package. But US has said that reactor 'is simply not on the table' anymore - citing North's conversion of a reactor supposedly built for research at its Yongbyon nuclear complex into one Washington says can make material for atomic bombs"; AP"North Korea Demands..."[SAME TITLE as previous item but with LATER TEXT] NYT 14 Sep 05:-"North Korea insisted [14 Sep] it should get a nuclear reactor to generate electricity in exchange for abandoning atomic weapons development, but main US envoy at disarmament talks said Washington and its partners have no intention of meeting demand"; Reuters"North Korean Nuclear Arms Talks Deadlocked"NYT 14 Sep 05:-"[N]o sign of an early end to nearly three-year-old crisis ...[I]mpasse over Pyongyang's insistence on its right to a civilian nuclear program"; Hill: "I think main issue here with DPRK is we put together a comprehensive package to deal with the issue here and they've chosen to focus on somethig that is not in the package"; Joseph Kahn"North Korea Sets New Demand for Ending Arms Program: Money to Buy a Civilian Reactor"NYT 14 Sep 05:-"North Korea has said it is prepared to end its nuclear program in principle. But conditions it sets for doing so have included, at various times, security guarantees, food and economic aid, diplomatic concessions and withdrawal of US forces from South Korea. Main stumbling block now is North Korea's insistence that it has the right to retain a civilian nuclear program even if it gives up its nuclear weapons... US negotiators recently signaled... they would be willing to leave aside issue of civilian uses of nuclear technology for now to clear way for general agreement on ending North's weapons effort...US officials drew sharp line at building new reactors for North Korea... China has circulated a draft agreement in which North Korea would commit to denuclearize in exchange for economic and energy aid as well as diplomatic and security benefits"; Reuters"North Korea Talks on Verge of Collapse After Three Days"NYT 15 Sep 05:-"After three days of talks, US and North Korean delegations as far apart as ever... Hill said it was Pyongyang that stood alone... Washington...says Pyongyang must dismantle all nuclear programs verifiably and irreversibly, after which it can expect energy aid and security guarantees. Impoverished North wants aid and guarantees first, as well as right to keep civilian nuclear programs"; AP"Dispute Over Reactor Stalls N. Korea Talks"NYT 15 Sep 05:-"Quoting unidentified sources at talks, Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that North Korea had told the other nations at negotiations that it would boost its production of nuclear material if its demand for [light-water] reactor is not met... A Washington-based think tank released satellite photo [14 Sep] showing reactor at Yongbyon has apparently been restarted, noting a steam plume was seen [11 Sep] rising from its cooling tower. Reactor shut down earlier this year and North said its fuel rods were removed, a move that would allow it to harvest more weapons-grade plutonium"; AP"N. Korea's Refusal Scuttles Nuclear Talks"NYT 15 Sep 05:-"Talks on North Korea's nuclear program deadlocked [15 Sep] as communist nation stuck to its refusal to halt atomic bomb development until it receives a nuclear reactor to generate power. Main US envoy said North was isolating itself from other five countries at talks, which aren't inclined to fund a reactor or give nuclear technology to a country that withdrew from Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and kicked out international inspectors"; Reuters "North Korea Talks on Verge of Collapse After Three Days"NYT 15 Sep 05:-"Talks...in disarray...after Pyongyang insisted on being supplied a light-water nuclear reactor and threatened to boost weapons production if it was not... 'In fact, just in last couple of days, they've come back with whole new concept. That is a light-water reactor. So indeed we have a problem', Hill said... 'Issue of a light-water reactor is one that's related to the political commitment by US to clear its hostility against us and to peacefully co-exist', spokesman for North Korea told reporters"; Reuters"SKorea Urges US to Consider Normalizing North Ties"NYT 15 Sep 05:-"US should consider normalizing relations with North Korea as part of resolution of nuclear-arms dispute with communist state, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said... Roh told NYC audience he was both 'optimistic' about ending the impasse and 'very nervous' about a crisis that has hung over Korean peninsula since 2002... Roh...said he gave Washington the 'lion's share of credit' for moving issue to negotiating table. He also said North was trying to help"; Joseph Kahn"North Korea Demand on Reactor Creates Standoff at Nuclear Talks"NYT 15 Sep 05:-"North Korea stuck doggedly [15 Sep] to its demand that outside world build it a new nuclear reactor before it dismantles its nuclear weapons... Hill made clear...that gap had widened over three days of discussions and that prospects for a breakthrough were slim... Stalemate hands Bush administration an unhappy choice - whether to continue indefinitely with negotiations that have produced no result, or seek to build consensus to impose international sanctions on North Korea against wishes of most regional countries. One goal for US in talks... is to demonstrate enough sincerity and flexibility to persuade Asian nations... North Korea is seen as having opposite objective... [It] said all other parties agreed that it was justified in requesting new light-water reactor, and that only US refused to discuss the matter.;. donation of the power plant must come before the North makes any concessions"; Reuters"U.S. Holds Out Threat to Freeze N.Korean Assets"NYT 16 Sep 05:-"US on [16 Sep] held out threat of freezing North Korean assets if six-party talks did not make progress in next five days in ending communist state's nuclear weapons capability. US Secretary of State Rice said US was not solely dependent on current negotiations in China to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions and listed freezing assets as one punitive option"; Reuters"China Draft Raises Hopes at North Korea Talks"NYT 16 Sep 05:-"A new proposal from China raised hopes for progress... [Host of] negotiations put forward a revised draft statement which was thought to acknowledge North Korea's right in principle to an atomic energy program, offering potential way out of stalemate. China asked all parties for response on its draft by [17 Sep]. 'We are at important crossroad', chief South Korean delegate told reporters. 'We're at point of whether to accept it (draft) or not; not to discuss it further'. On [16 Sep] Russia's Interfax news agency quoted North Korean source as saying China's draft was unacceptable and 'practically repeats position of US'."; AP"N. Korea Vows Not to Give Up Nuke Program”NYT 16 Sep 05:-"China proposed that North Korea retain its right to peaceful nuclear program after abandoning its weapons, according to Russia's chief envoy.;. proposal contains 'compromise wording which could satisfy both sides'... But Pyongyang vowed anew not to give up its atomic program without getting concession first. 'We will never give up our nuclear' program before US nuclear threat removed from Korean peninsula, North Korean spokesman Hyun Hak Bong told reporters... 'We will just do it our way. For us, we cannot stop our way of peaceful nuclear activities for one minute', Hyun said [but] did not react directly to China's proposal... North also blasted Washington's contention that it first give up all nuclear programs, saying US 'should not even dream' about North accepting such 'brigandish' demands"; David Stout"Bush and Putin Stand Siide by Side on North Korea and Iran"NYT 16 Sep 05:-"US President Bush and President Vladimir V.Putin of Russia tried to play down some obvious differences between them today, declaring they agreed on importance of keeping Iran and North Korea free of nuclear weapons... But it was clear... that some significant disagreements remained. Perhaps Putin hinted at that when he said... 'On our part, I'd like to point out the potential of diplomatic solutions to all these questions is far from being exhausted'"; Reuters"It's Make or Break for North Korea Talks" NYT 16 Sep 05:-"Talks on North Korea's nuclear programs stood at a crossroads [17 Sep], with delegates poring over a proposal that could offer a way out of a deadlock over Pyongyang's insistence on its right to atomic energy"; Joseph Kahn"China Proposes a Deal to End North Korean Nuclear Standoff"NYT 16 Sep 05:-"[M]ixed signals [16 Sep] whether US and North Korea prepared to come to terms. Under new proposal... North Korea promised right to retain peaceful nuclear energy program and to receive a new light-water reactor at some point. Proposal also reflects US demands that any such steps occur after North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons... By late [16 Sep] it appeared uncertain whether it would help North Korea and US bridge their differences"; Joseph Kahn"North Korea Talks Extended To Discuss Chinese Proposal"NYT 17 Sep 05:-"Sparring continued [17 Sep] over North Korea's conditions for dismantling its atomic weapons program, with six nations negotiating... to extend talks to sixth day... Earlier in the day, Christopher Hill, chief US negotiator, signaled support for Chinese compromise plan and urged North Korea to accept it as well"... Chances for reaching a final agreement remained uncertain"; AP "Talks Will Reconvene Sunday"NYT 17 Sep 05:-"Chinese proposal for ending North Korea's atomic weapons while [sic] allowing Pyongyang regime to keep [sic] a civilian nuclear power drew objections from US and others,.. chief US delegate said... Washington argues North cannot be trusted with any [sic] nuclear program given its history of pursuing nuclear bombs... North Korea did not publicly comment on proposal that China laid out [16 Sep], but previously emphasized it would not give up its nuclear program without concessions by US... Official Xinhua News Agency said [Chinese Vice-FM Dai Bingguo] urged envoys to end 'cold war state' on Korean peninsula and accept China's plan, which he called 'balanced' and a 'win-win' proposal"; Reuters"Deadlocked North Korea Talks to Resume Sunday"NYT 17 Sep 05:-"[Talks] will enter a sixth day [18 Sep], after failing to break a deadlock over Pyongyang's insistence on its right to atomic energy. Delegates... attempt to break the impasse... Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese delegation sources as saying it was becoming more likely... talks would break for a second recess"; Reuters"Last Ditch Attempt for Agreement at N.Korea Talks"NYT 17 Sep 05:-"Chief delegates meeting [18 Sep] to discuss draft statement put forward by China, after group session and flurry of bilateral meetings [17Sep] failed to bring consensus. [US chief negotiator:]'The issue is the tactics of how we express the elements of the document... Some delegations prefer to leave some things more ambiguous. My delegation would like to see things less ambiguous so we have to resolve some of the tactics of it'"; Reuters"Monday Make - or - Break Day for N.Korea Talks"NYT 18 Sep 05:-"[S]till deadlocked... talks after top US envoy said he would leave Beijing at end of the day"; AP"Talks Will End Monday"NYT 18 Sep 05:-"[Talks] seemed at a critical point [18 Sep] night as main US envoy praised a new Chinese proposal but said he planned to head home [19 Sep] regardless of the outcome"; AP"U.N. to End Food Shipments to N. Korea"NYT 18 Sep 05:-"UN will end a decade of emergency food shipments to North Korea by Jan because the impoverished communist nation claims to have enough food coming from other sources, a local WFP official said"; Reuters"N.Korea Nuclear Talks Reach Their Climax"NYT 18 Sep 05:- similar to last/previous Reuters, but with varied details; Joseph Kahn"North Korea Says It Will Drop Nuclear Efforts for Aid Program"NYT 19 Sep 05:-"North Korea agreed to end its nuclear weapons program this morning in return for security, economic and energy benefits, potentially easing tensions with US after three-year standoff over country's efforts to build atomic bombs. [All six] signed draft accord in which Pyongyang promised to abandon efforts to produce nuclear weapons and re-admit international inspectors to its nuclear facilities. Foreign powers said they would provide aid, diplomatic assurances and security guarantees, and consider North Korea's demands for a light-water nuclear reactor. Agreement is a preliminary one that would require future rounds of negotiations to flesh out... China [said] talks would reconvene in November to continue ironing out details... 'The problem is not yet solved but we hope it can be solved eventually through this agreement', said Hill, chief US negotiator... But he called the signing 'turning point'...In Washington, Bush reacted cautiously, [calling] move 'a positive step' ...'Question is, over time, will all parties adhere'... Critics... point to fact that remains vague on sequence of concessions... Agreement states [that the five others] will discuss providing North Korea with light-water reactor 'at the appropriate time'. Appropriate is not defined... Senior US official said... 'appropriate time' would come only after North Korea rejoined Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and re-admitted nuclear inspectors. He added North Korea would not be able to achieve those goals until it dismantles its nuclear program. But official acknowledged issue had proven to be most sensitive one for Bush administration... One reason it proved sensitive is that it echoes 1994 accord... negotiated by Clinton administration... 'Agreed framework' called for construction of two light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea in return for North freezing and later ending its weapons program. Bush administration criticized concessions Clinton administration made... and later accused North Korea of violation leading to standoff. Administration official emphasized that new accord does not repeat what he viewed as main mistake of agreed framework because it does not focus on 'freezing' North's nuclear program, but makes its total abandonment the benchmark for progress... Accord appears to be significant victory for China... Beijing brokered compromise agreement. [It] insisted text had to remain unchanged. Chinese draft was agreed to with only small alternations. China has long argued that North Korea's nuclear problems cannot be dealt with through pressure or military force, and must be addressed through comprehensive negotiations aimed at Pyongyang's full range of concerns. Bush administration also overhauled substance and style of its approach to North Korea... [S]topped using accusatory language ['axis of evil';' tyrant']... US has worked closely with South Korea and China to address North Korea's security and economic concerns... [R]eassured that recognized country as sovereign. Officials relaxed their stand on North retaining some kind of peaceful nuclear program. New agreement commits North Korea to scrap all its existing nuclear weapons and nuclear production facilities, to rejoin NPT and re-admit nuclear inspectors. US and North Korea pledged to respect each other's sovereignty and right to peaceful co-existence, and to work toward normalization of relations. [US] declared it does not have any nuclear weapons at its bases in South Korea and that it 'has no intention to attack or invade DPRK with nuclear or conventional weapons'. [A]greement states North Korea claims right to pursue 'peaceful use of nuclear energy'. It went on to say, 'The other parties expressed their respect and agreed to discuss at an appropriate time the subject of the provision of light-water reactor to DPRK'... US officials have said [light-water reactor] still raises proliferation risks and cannot be a first step in arranging nuclear disarmament of country... [Hill] said North considers a civilian nuclear plant a 'trophy'. Agreement includes commitment by South Korea to build power plants and transmission lines to provide North with 2,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to roughly double total supply of electrical power for its neighbour"; AP"Text of Joint Statement From Nuclear Talks"NYT 19 Sep 05:-"Text of the joint statement issued [19 Sep] by six nations at talks in Beijing on North Korea's nuclear program". While almost all its operative clauses are analysed in the above summary of Joseph Kahn's article, the statement's key introductory sentence is as follows: "For the cause of peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia at large, the six parties held in a spirit of mutual respect and equality serious and practical talks concerning the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula on the basis of the common understanding of the previous three rounds of talks and agreed in this context to the following:". The full text is not long, and can be easily obtained; Joseph Cirincione"Q&A: North Korea Nuclear Talks"Council on Foreign Relations 19 Sep 05:-interview with "a leading nuclear nonproliferation expert, [who] says agreement reached in Beijing at six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program represents 'a major breakthrough'. Cirincione, director of the Nonproliferation Project at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, says that even though there are many details yet to be worked out, 'I think we are now looking at an 80% chance of getting a final deal'. Frequent critic in past of Bush administration's approach to disarmament negotiations, Cirincione also says Beijing document is 'major accomplishment for Bush administration'. He was interviewed on 19 Sep 05 by Bernard Gwetzman, consulting editor for cfr.org"; Economist 19 Sep 05"Global Agenda: Not a Final Deal, Just a Start"(pre-publication - if ever published):-"After more than two years of talk, North Korea has promised to abandon all its nuclear weapons and programs, and to let inspectors from UN's nuclear agency return. But deal agreed in Beijing leaves out many of the trickiest issues - not least, how to ensure Kim Jong Il's regime fulfils its promises... This is welcome news. But agreement stops well short of resolving the crisis once and for all. The six countries... only managed to agree on the deal by putting aside some of the most difficult issues. [I]t would be premature to celebrate success of the talks until North Korea actually opens its nuclear facilities to IAEA inspectors and begins to dismantle them and disarm any existing nuclear bombs. So far, there is no timetable for this or for North Korea's re-entry into NPT... Despite... caveats, tentative deal reached... is better than no deal at all. All sides have shown some readiness to compromise"; Joseph Kahn & David E.Sanger"U.S.-Korean Deal on Arms Leaves Key Points Open"NYT 19 Sep 05:-"Hill had misgivings because vaguely worded agreement left unaddressed the date disarmament would happen, and hinted at a concession to North Korea that President Bush and his aides had long said they would never agree to discussing at an appropriate time providing North Korea with civilian power plant, senior officials said...Bush administration said the only appropriate time would be well after North Korea dismantled all its nuclear facilities and allowed highly intrusive inspections of the country... All benefits North Korea was promised in agreement... will not flow until it rejoins NPT and readmits international nuclear inspectors... [Bush's] caution may reflect fact that accord, culmination of two years of difficult negotiation, still left administration short of its goal, requiring two major concessions that will take months, maybe years, to fully resolve. [U]nless North admits to the program in a declaration of all its nuclear facilities, inspectors would have to work to uncover the uranium program in adversarial way down the road... Allowing North Korea to have light-water reactor raises what for the Bush administration are unwelcome parallels with 1994 Clinton administration agreement"; AP"North Korea Demands Nuke Reactor From U.S."NYT 20 Sep 05:-"North Korea insisted [20 Sep] it won't dismantle its nuclear weapons program until US gives it civilian nuclear reactors, casting doubt on disarmament agreement... Washington... joined China in urging North Korea to stick to the agreement announced [19 Sep] in which it pledged to abandon all its nuclear programs in exchange for economic aid and security assurances. North Korea's new demands underlined its unpredictable nature and deflated some optimism from Beijing agreement... Announcement... contained no deadlines and few details. Parties agreed to meet again in Nov, when the difficult questions of verification and timetables would be on the table... Other countries at Beijing talks made clear that reactor could only be discussed after North rejoins NPT and accepts inspections from IAEA - which North Korea pledged to do... Agreement had drawn praise around the world and raised hopes of resolving a standoff that has raised concerns of an arms race in northeast Asia"; Steven R.Weiman"U.S. Says North Korean Demand for Reactor Won't Derail Accord"NYT 20 Sep 05:-"Bush administration brushed off demand from North Korea for a light-water nuclear reactor, saying accord announced [19 Sep] in Beijing left it clear that North must abandon its nuclear weapons programs before such a matter can be discussed... Secretary of State Rice [said] 'We will stick to text of Beijing statement, and I believe we can make progress if everybody sticks to what was actually agreed to'... Hill, chief US negotiator in talks, said [20 Sep] that he was not surprised by North Korea's continued insistence on getting reactor up front, but that North understood that US timetable for discussing reactor was shared by the other countries in the talks. 'North Koreans will make odd statements at their leisure, but they know precisely what the deal is'... 'Light-water reactor was the major sticking point, and it remains the one sticking point still', said an Asian diplomat. 'These differences of opinion are somewhat worrisome'. He said he expected that North Korea would not agree immediately to resume talks in Nov, but that eventually China would persuade them to return"; New York Times Editorial"Diplomacy at Work"20 Sep 05:-"For years now, foreign policy insiders have pointed to North Korea as the ultimate nightmare, the ongoing worst-case scenario for an international crisis; a closed, hostile and paranoid dictatorship with an aggressive nuclear weapons program. Very few people could envision a successful outcome. And yet North Korea agreed in principle this week to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, return to NPT, abide by the treaty's safeguards and admit international inspectors. Diplomacy, it seems, does work after all"; Reuters"North Korea Urged to Keep Atomic Arms Pledge"NYT 21 Sep 05:-"[At International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)'s quarterly governing board meeting] US and other members of UN nuclear watchdog offered cautious praise on [21 Sep] to North Korea for pledging to abandon nuclear weapons but said Pyongyang must stick to its word... Pyongyang threw the deal in doubt by saying [20 Sep] it would not give up its nuclear weapons until Washington provided it with civilian atomic reactors. US said that was not what had been agreed... Asked when IAEA inspectors, who were expelled by Pyongyang on 31 Dec 02, would go back, [IAEA head] Baradei said that was an issue he hoped to discuss with North Koreans, adding, 'The earlier we go back the better'"; Financial Times"North Korea Urged To Reveal Nuclear Plants"NYT 21 Sep 05:-"North Korea should not play 'hide and seek' with inspectors but come clean about all its nuclear facilities, including its clandestine uranium enrichment program, according to Christopher Hill, US envoy... Hill said US wanted much more clarity from Pyongyang on its uranium enrichment when six parties reconvene in Nov to discuss how to verify the dismantling of all its nuclear weapons and programs... US expects North Korea to expose all its facilities and that US inspectors will be among those given access... Joint statement... left key questions of timing and verification for future resolution... Hill said dismantling reactor at Yongbyon could take years. Independent experts agreed with that assessment. Hill also said South Korea would need three years to meet its pledge of providing 2,000MW of conventionally generated electricity"; Reuters"Reclusive North Korea Opens Door to US Tourists"NYT 22 Sep 05:-"Reclusive North Korea will allow US tourists across its border next month for first time in three years. In time to take in the spectacle of the country's biggest-ever mass games, involving 100,000 people... Clear sign of an easing of tensions between the two sides, British organizer of the tours said"; AP"U.S. Envoy Wants More N. Korea Discussions"NYT 22 Sep 05:-"Chief US envoy to North Korean disarmament talks wants to visit communist country for further discusssions after Pyongyang agreed in a landmark accord this week to abandon its nuclear program, [Chung Dong-young, South Korean Unification Minister] said... South Korea estimates it will cost as much as $15b to finance the energy aid promised to North Korea, Chung said. The aid will come in three stages, beginning with heavy oil supplies, electricity provision and finally reactor construction over a period of up to 13 years, he said"; Reuters "Reactor Issue a Matter for New Talks - N.Korea"NYT 22 Sep 05:-"North Korea[-Deputy FM Choe Su Hon-] appeared to back away [22 Sep] from a threat to put conditions on its pledge to give up its nuclear arms, saying matter should be discussed in a new round of six-party talks in Nov... Choe added, however, it was 'illogical' for one side to sit and wait for the other to act first...Choe...offered some conciliatory words, saying that while Washington had been 'slandering' Pyongyang in past, 'we now see less of this'... Choe also said chief US negotiator...Hill... would be welcome without conditions if he wished to come in connection with the nuclear dispute or for other reasons. Earlier on [22 Sep], in address to UNGA, Choe said US should give North Korea civilian nuclear reactors 'as soon as possible' to show that Washington recognized Pyongyang's right to peaceful nuclear activities. Choe did not appear to link provision of reactors to its obligations under the deal reached in Beijing"; AP"N.Korea Demands Reactor for Disarmament"NYT 23 Sep 05:-"North Korea's deputy FM urged US [22 Sep] to provide it with a nuclear reactor as a 'simultaneous' step in its disarmament, and said his country would welcome a visit by chief US arms negotiator. US officials had downplayed Pyongyang's insistence on reactors soon after agreement... But North Korean Deputy FM Choe... repeated demand [22 Sep] for reactor and added that its provision should be part of 'simultaneous action' on disarmament. Choe said he expects that light-water reactors and compensation to North Korea for dismantling its nuclear reactors will be discussed when talks resume in Nov... Choe also said North Korea would not impose any conditions on a visit by Hill... In a speech earlier to UNGA's ministerial meeting, Choe said, "What is most essential at this stage is for US to provide light-water reactors to (North Korea) asap as evidence proving the former's substantial recognition of latter's right to peaceful nuclear activities'... Choe was far more subdued in his criticism [of US] than previous statements out of North Korea. Choe also confirmed that North Korea informed UN that it wants all humanitarian assistance from UN and other international organizations terminated by end of year because of US interference... He said humanitarian situation has improved 'to a great extent', [b]ut another reason for termination is the attempt by 13 countries, especially US, 'to politicize the humanitarian assistance' by linking it to human rights in North Korea"; AP"North Korean Leader Wants Meeting With U.S."NYT 23 Sep 05:-"North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has ordered his aides to arrange a meeting with a high-ranking US official, possibly with President Bush, a South Korean news agency reported [23 Sep]... Yonhap news agency said Kim told his FM to set up a visit to the North by a prominent US figure, specifically mentioning Bush, former President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as possibilities. Officials [in] South Korea... could not confirm the report... North Korea has long tried to engage US in bilateral talks, believing such meetings would boost its international status and help it win bigger concessions at nuclear talks"; AP"U.N. Agencies, N. Korea Hold Food Talks"NYT 23 Sep 05:-"Several UN agencies are in talks with North Korea on how to overcome differences over emergency food aid after Pyongyang demanded that all such help be terminated and changed into development assistance, UN officials said [23 Sep]... UN World Food Program said it is negotiating... to find ways to change its food aid into development programs. But... North Korean government had not asked it to leave the country... This year, WFP is providing food assistance to about 6.5m North Koreans - mainly children, pregnant and nursing women, elderly or otherwise vulnerable people. [Head of WFP office in Pyongyang said] 'We still believe there are large numbers of people in the country who are struggling to meet their basic food needs'. [Yet] Choe told UNGA that humanitarian situation has improved 'to a great extent', grain production is expected to increase and government can feed the people. But he said another reason for the termination is the attempt by 13 countries, especially US, 'to politicize the humanitarian assistance' by linking it to human rights in North Korea"; Reuters"UN Urges N. Korea to Keep Taking Aid for Children"NYT 23 Sep 05:-"UN [Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland] appealed to North Korea [23 Sep] to think of its children and reverse its decision to stop accepting food aid at end of this year... While reclusive communist nation has made important gains in feeding its people over past decade, 7% of its 22.5m people were still starving and 37% remained chronically malnourished, he said... Choe said... US politicizing issue by linking aid to human rights, an allegation Washington strongly denied... Egeland said UN agencies and private relief groups would try to persuade the authorities to keep alive some food programs... According to UN statistics, 40% of North Korea's children suffer from stunted growth"; AP"U.N. Chief: N. Korea Still Needs Food Aid"NYT 23 Sep 05:-"Jan Egeland... told reporters that aid groups were trying to figure out if they could reclassify some of their work as development assistance, something North Korea will still allow"; Economist 24 Sep 05 "Iran, North Korea and the Bomb: Getting Beyond No"(Edit.17-8); "North Korea: The Deal That Wasn't" (49-50):-although Editorial is concentrated mainly on Iran, it draws similarities between two international problems. It states,"If Iran is allowed to fob off nuclear inspectors, so will North Korea... North...seemed to surprise itself this week by agreeing to a set of principles... to give up its weapons and end its nuclear dabbling - so much so, that a day later it was already bad-temperedly backtracking". Main item reports: "Within 24 hours, North Korea had made it clear that there had been little if any real agreement. Resolution of crisis surrounding its... nuclear weapons programs appears as remote as ever, though at least parties still talking... China particularly keen for accord to be reached. US, lacking any satisfactory plan should the talks fail, ready to endorse a vaguely worded document that would at least hope to keep diplomatic process alive... 'Joint statement' issued 19 Sep...hardly 'epoch-making' accord South Korea's ...President... termed it. Riddled with holes. North Korea, it said,was committed to 'abandoning all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs' and returning 'at an early date' to NPT and IAEA safeguards.But no mention of just what weapons or programs were being referred to... If the two sides cannot even agree on what nuclear programs exist,... declared goal of 'verifiable denuclearization' of Korean peninsula cannot be reached... US insisted...forgo even civilian nuclear programs. But Chinese sympathised with North Korean view that it should still have right to develop civilian nuclear power. Reluctantly, US agreed in statement that parties would 'respect' North Korea's stance... Vulnerability of entire agreement to reactor issue displayed on following day. North Korea demanded that light-water reactors...be delivered before it rejoined NPT and carried out its other nuclear-scrapping commitments... Despite this impasse, North Korea may well feel that cards still stacked in its favour... Would be extremely difficult to persuade China and South Korea, North's two most important trading partners, to support any economic sanctions... [Its] slap at WFP should give pause to anyone optimistic about North Korea's willingness to open its door to nuclear inspection... Real reason for [decision to refuse WFP food next year] is that government increasingly disgruntled with WFP's insistence on extensive monitoring of aid distribution. China and South Korea are far less fussy...to verify its destination. Only one part of nuclear agreement stands out as clear and incontrovertible, and that is consensus that parties will meet again in early Nov... More talks, relatively soon, are about the most that can be hoped for now"; AP "North Korea Seeks Less Dependence on Aid"NYT 25 Sep 05:-"North Korea's demand that food aid be terminated and changed into development assistance underlines the regime's desire for a long-term strategy for feeding its people and becoming less dependent on foreign help, experts on the country say... 'North Korea has survived a life-and-death situation where people starved to death and there is now some stability, albeit at a minimum level', said Paik Hak-soon of Sejong Institute in Seoul. 'They now want a long-term survival strategy'... Analysts stress North is not asking for halt to food assistance, but for programs that will grant more independence - central to its guiding national ideology of 'juche', or self-reliance... While US insists it does not use food aid as a political tool, its recently appointed special envoy on North Korea's human rights, Jay Lefkowitz, suggested earlier this month that future US aid might be linked to North's human rights record. Some have also raised concerns that reclusive North may be preparing to expel foreign aid workers to escape monitoring of food aid deliveries. Donors, including US, worry that supplies might be diverted to North Korea's 1million-member military or country's elite rather than those most in need"; AP"North Korea Would 'Deter' Provocation"NYT 25 Sep 05:-"North Korea warned [25 Sep] it had powerful 'deterrent' against a US nuclear attack, criticizing moves in Washington to authorize pre-emptive use of atomic weapons against states or terrorists armed with weapons of mass destruction. Communist nation's government did not elaborate on deterrent, but commentary in North Korea's official Minju Joson newspaper said that 'nuclear weapons are no longer monopoly of US'. 'The army and people of (North Korea) proud of having built such a self-defensive deterrent, strong enough to protect national dignity/security from US nuclear threat', said commentary carried by North's Korean Central News Agency ...The state-run newspaper deriding a document being updated by Pentagon to reflect President Bush's 2002 doctrine of pre-emption... North Korea fears it might become next US target after Iraq. Bush has labeled Iran, Iraq and North Korea as 'axis of evil'. 'US nuclear stick will not work' on North Korea, newspaper said. 'If US recklessly forces nuclear war on (North Korea), its army and people will exercise their legitimate right to self-defense as powerful means of retaliation'."; AP"Reactor Plan Haunts N. Korean Disarmament"NYT 26 Sep 05:-[read valuable original; sum. very tight] "North [Korea] sees...nuclear future rising from coastal plain 125 miles from...southern border: 2 light-water nuclear reactors[LWRs] bestowed upon reclusive communist state and built by South/Japan/US/Europe. But it is mirage. Unfinished LWRs cold, sealed for 2 years since breakdown of deal for North to abandon its nuclear weapons program in exchange for electricity-producing reactors. Now US/Japan/EU/South have turned their backs on $4.6b project. On [26-7 Sep], 4 in Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization(KEDO) meet in NYC to consider whether to kill deal for good in wake of nuclear disarmament deal announced... Under new agreement... electric cables from South would send 2m KW to North by 08. US supports terminating KEDO by end 05, said [Hill, but] North continues to insist on right to peaceful nuclear power ... In 94, Clinton laid plans to go to war over North's secret reprocessing of plutonium at research reactor at Yongbyon [US intel.93: enough for 1-2+ weapons]. As Clinton [et co.] watched in amazement/alarm, ex-Pres.Carter flew to North on impromptu peace mission, and struck deal with ruler Kim Il Sung: in exchange for end nuclear weapons dev't and allowing IAEA inspections, North would receive 500,000 tons heavy fuel oil annually from US to meet woeful energy shortage until got two LWRs - built/paid for primarily by South/Japan, with some EU funding. LWRs more difficult to use for nuclear weapons production. US delivered fuel oil shipments until 02 but halted them when new suspicions arose that North had embarked on second, secret weapons dev't program by covertly enriching uranium. [Bush suspicious since 01. John Bolton launched campaign for IAEA to declare North violation.] Bush admin. not united however. [Former KEDO chief Charles] Kartman said asked by Colin Powell 01 to keep KEDO running in case useful to further negotiations with North... Construction of LWRs in North began 02, but Kartman regarded Powell retirement 04 KEDO death toll. US ended fuel oil shipments 02 and prodded KEDO freeze LWRs construction Dec 03. North retaliated: pulling out of NPT and barring UN inspectors. North also said had pulled 8,000 spent plutonium fuel rods from Yongbyon and later announced had reprocessed them for weapons material and restated reactor"; Reuters"New Powers of Persuation Needed in North Korea Talks"NYT 26 Sep 05:-"North Korea's five dialogue partners... will be talking constantly to maintain a united front in their dealings with North before next round scheduled for Nov, analysts said. Best way to move beyond talk of light-water reactor issue is to move process into working-level meetings of experts so they can address devil in details of agreement, [Ralph Cossa, pres. of Pacific Forum CSIS think tank] said. 'Light-water reactor demand also serves to distract attention away from real issue: Pyongyang's plutonium- and uranium- based nuclear weapons programs and how to both account for and then verifiably dismantle them', he said. So far the five appear to be on same page... Next round of talks will likely address developing action plan for delicate sequence of dismantling North Korea's nuclear programs and rewards each step will bring, analysts said... Next round needed to address North Korean actions for dismantling their programs. 'Actions build trust', South Korean official said, adding some actions would be North rejoining NPT and allowing IAEA officials back into country... Robert Gallucci, who negotiated 1994 Agreed Framework, has said deal was not built on trust but deliberately crafted as series of reciprocal steps that would only move forward as the one side complied with terms of accord... Problematic issues that North may raise could include seeking a peace treaty with US to formally end 1950-53 Korean War. 'Issues relating to a permanent peace regime [normalize relations] are problematic', said Kim [Sung-han at South Korea's Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security]. 'By raising these issues, Pyongyang could very easily drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington'. [He] said issues such as diplomatic relations are better discussed outside six-party process. North Korea has linked removal of the 32,500 US troops stationed in South Korea as condition for peace treaty with Washington and there is popular support in South Korea for measures that would remove US troops from country"; Reuters"N.Korea Plan to Halt Aid a Bad Idea: US Agency"NYT 27 Sep 05:-North Korea's demand that outside aid agencies end humanitarian relief efforts there by the end of this year is a bad idea and could lead to more refugees, top US aid official said... Many analysts say secretive North Korea wants to halt monitoring, required by agencies to ensure that aid reaches targeted recipients and is not siphoned off by officials. A recent study US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea suggested that as much as 30% of food aid was diverted away from intended beneficiaries. Pyongyang abused aid while cutting back on food imports and using funds elsewhere, including on military spending, the report said"; AP"Long Road to Ridding North Korea of Nukes"NYT 27 Sep 05:-"[R]ecent pact on ridding communist nation of its nuclear programs has yet to change reality on the ground. [A]ccord on principles for disarmament faces its first test in Nov when 6 countries will again hold talks, this time on how to verify North has abandoned nuclear activities. Nov talks are just first step on long road to nuclear-free North Korea, analysts say. 'This is really just the beginning of negotiations, if we're lucky', said former US diplomat Robert Galucci. 'But we have to start someplace'. [R]ecently released satellite photos showing North's reactor at Yongbyon operating - sign that Pyongyang could still produce weapons-grade plutonium... North Korea would likely say now is the time to discuss [light-water] reactor. But US wants to consider it only after North rejoins global NPT and allows [IAEA]"; AP"End to Korea Atomic Arms Deemed Arduous"NYT 27 Sep 05:-"Could take years to nail down an agreement to end North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, and divisions among US negotiating partners could make job even harder, former top US negotiator said. Accord announced..., which would trade economic concessions and international acceptance of North Korea for an end to its programs, is an important first step, ex-negotiator Robert J.Einhorn said. 'It is an expressed destination but not a roadmap how to get there' [he]said... 'Among unanswered questions are when North Korea would end its programs and what responsibilities it would have to IAEA'. While negotiators... wrestle with these problems beginning a new round of talks Nov in Beijing, Einhorn said, North Koreans will want to maintain their (nuclear) deterrence as long as possible. In meantime, he said, North Korea believed pursuing a clandestine program to acquire technology for uranium enrichment"; Reuters"Ex - U.S. Official Sees Long Road for N.Korea Talks"NYT 27 Sep 05:-"North Korea may drag out negotiations on ending its nuclear weapons programs for years and disputes with US allies will continue to complicate this process, [Einhorn] said. 'In months ahead, I think they are going to face much tougher questions', including how to phase-in promised reciprocal actions... Einhorn said..North Korea unlikely to take single decision to abandon its nuclear weapons programs. Instead, Pyongyang's decision-making expected to be tentative and conditional as communist regime seeks to maintain its leverage in negotiations... A major question is whether Pyongyang will temporarily set aside its demand for civilian nuclear power program or insist on an early resolution of this issue. Einhorn said US worries that, even before North has taken steps to dismantle its weapons programs, South will take massive steps to help Pyongyang develop its devastated economy. If [so], Pyongyang may decide it can reach its goals without denuclearizing"; Reuters"Pakistan Says N.Korea Nuclear Ties 'Closed Chapter'"NYT 29 Sep 05:-"Pakistan has given South Korea all information it has about suspected exchanges of nuclear technology with North Korea, Pakistan's PM Aziz said...'As regards any relationship or interaction with North Korea, we have none any more'... Although [disgraced nuclear scientist] Khan under house arrest, neither US officials nor [IAEA] inspectors have been allowed to question him... Issue critical because US had demanded at 6-country talks that North Korea dismantle all its nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment... KCNA called Washington's charges about uranium program 'false propaganda' and 'very insolent act seeking sinister political purpose'"; AP"Pakistan Backs Nuke Free Korean Peninsula"NYT 29 Sep 05:-"Pakistan's PM said ...his country supports a nuclear-weapons-free Korean Peninsula and has shared what little information it had about North Korea's nuclear program with South Korea... 'Pakistan believes that a nuclear free Korean Peninsula is good for the world', Aziz said, adding he was 'very encouraged' that 6-nation talks will be successful'; Reuters"First Inter - Korea Business Office in North"NYT 29 Sep 05:-"South and North Korea will open first joint-business office [Oct] in North to promote fledgling trade across heavily militarized border, senior official in Seoul said. Vice Unification Minister also said North had invited more than 170 South Koreans for unprecedented investor relations event. [I]n recent months... two sides reaching numerous agreements on issues such as agricultural cooperation, business development and economic assistance. Handful of South Korean manufacturers have set up operations in [Kaesong city in North] to take advantage of cheap labor"; AP"Chinese Vice Premier to Visit North Korea"NYT 29 Sep 05:-"Wu Yi will visit North Korea [8-11 Oct]amid ongoing international push to convince reclusive regime to give up nuclear weapons development... They 'will exchange views on a lot of international issues of common interest', [Chinese FM spokesman] Qin said... 'We hope visit... could further promote our friendship and cooperation', Qin said[, adding] that trade between two sides reached almost $1.4b last year"; AP"S. Korea to Continue Food Aid to N. Korea"NYT 29 Sep 05:-"South Korea will keep sending food aid to rival North despite communist regime's demand that international donors halt emergency food shipments and provide development aid instead... [Vice Minister Rhee Bong-jo of Unification Ministry] stressed that South Korea's food donations were being delivered to ordinary citizens. Distribution of South Korean food aid - made directly to North rather than through international groups like UN WFP - comes with less stringent monitoring requirements. This has raised concerns that the aid might be diverted"; AP "China Differs on N.Korea Nuke Issues"NYT 29 Sep 05:-"Split between China and the four other countries that negotiated with North Korea on scrapping its nuclear arms could doom efforts to come up with a resolution welcoming North's decision at [Vienna] meeting of IAEA, diplomats said... China wanted it to mention a light-water nuclear reactor and other commitments made to North in exchange for its decision - something the four other nations opposed. Chinese and US negotiators meeting... to try and find common language... Chinese want all commitments agreed to by the other nations to be listed in detail... 'But others think this should be a resolution over North Korea and not over 6-party talks', diplomat said... While conference has no authority to enforce resolutions it adopts, failure to agree to a common approach on North Korea at meeting would be an embarrassing reflection of differences among 5 states that negotiated agreement with Pyongyang. Since North Korea quit NPT in 2003, annual IAEA general conferences routinely adopted resolutions calling on it to reverse its decision and recommit to nonproliferation"; AP"China - U.S. Split on N.Korea Resolved"NYT 30 Sep 05:-"China and US appear to have patched up differences at IAEA meeting over importance of a light-water nuclear reactor promised North Korea in exchange for pledging to scrap its nuclear arms, diplomats said. The two nations found compromise language on a resolution, [but] dispute was significant, because it reflected disagreement... on how to proceed at a more important level - future talks among [6 nations] meant to build on Pyongyang's commitment to mothball its nuclear weapons and return to nonproliferation fold"; AP"North Korean Workers Support Nuke Program"NYT 30 Sep 05:-"North Korean workers at [Diamond Mountain] tourist resort insist their country should not give up its nuclear weapons without getting something first from US, repeating official stance of their government. Comments... by workers... at tourist enclave which foreigners can freely visit, reflect the wide gap that remains between North and US"; AP "North Koreans Helping With Annual Harvest"NYT 30 Sep 05:-"More than million North Koreans being sent each day on trains around country to help with annual harvest that is expected to be sufficient this year, Pyongyang's official media said... Report said daily number averaged 1.17m people... UN officials have said they weren't allowed for the first time this year to carry out their regular annual crop survey";Reuters "IAEA Calls on N.Korea to Cooperate Over Inspections"NYT 30 Sep 05:-"Member nations of UN watchdog [30 Sep] welcomed North Korea's pledge to scrap its nuclear arsenal and called on the Stalinist state to cooperate in allowing inspections of its nuclear facilities. 'General conference... calls upon DPRK(North Korea) to cooperate with agency in full and effective implementation of comprehensive IAEA safeguards', resolution passed at IAEA's annual meeting of its 139 members said"; AP"U.S. Nuke Views on N. Korea Upheld by U.N."NYT 01 Oct 05:-"Text adopted [30 Sep] welcomes 'positive result' of talks that led to breakthrough announcement but notes 'with serious concern' North Korea's Feb 05 announcement that it had manufactured nuclear arms and fuel-rod reprocessing activities that can make fissile core of nuclear weapons...US particularly insistent that text make no mention of the promise of a light-water reactor, which is less easily diverted to weapons use than other models but can still be harnessed for such aims, diplomats said"; James Brooke"Rebuilding a Temple, Narrowing a Gap"NYT 02 Oct 05:-article reports on the growing number of South Korean projects in North Korea, their aims and social significance - particularly in the case of this reconstruction of a Buddhist temple. 'Whether the projects in North Korea are industrial parks, nuclear power plants or, as in this tourism zone, hotels, restaurants, golf courses and temples, many South Koreans do not see them as foreign aid or foreign investment. They see them as investments in a united Korea"; Reuters"New Start Needed for N.Korea Reactors, South Says"NYT 02 Oct 05:-report, mainly on interview with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon, on origin, status and future of KEDO, begun light-water nuclear reactors in Sinpo, North Korea, result of 1994 agreement, designed by US and paid for by Japan and South Korea."Large parts of the reactor container building and shell of one of two planned reactors have been completed"; AP"North Korea to Resume Food Rationing"NYT 02 Oct 05:-North "plans to resume full-scale food rationing across the impoverished communist country after ending grain sales, [WFP] said. 'As of 01 Oct, reports that cereal sales in markets cease and public distribution centers will take over countrywide distribution', WFP said... North Korea significantly scaled back food-rationing system Jul 02 while introducing economic reform program that increased wages. The reform measures failed, however, as inflation soared amid shortages of food and other goods"; Reuters"Mountain Resort Highlights N.Korea Ups and Downs"NYT 03 Oct 05:-like Brooke item 02 Oct, article also describes South Korea's economic activities in North, but with emphasis on tourism"; Reuters"N.Korea May Soon Name Kim Jong-Il Successor: Tass"NYT 04 Oct 05:-"North Korea could announce this month an eventual successor to leader Kim Jong-Il, Russian news agency Itar-Tass said [03 Oct], quoting a diplomatic source in Pyongyang... Source added that successor would be one of Kim Jong-Il's sons, all of whom had 'roughly equal chances'"; Reuters"Tragic Legacy Drives South Korean Party Leader"NYT 04 Oct 05:-"South Korean opposition leader Park Geun-hye... spent her teenage years in presidential Blue House in Seoul as daughter of South Korea's authoritarian ruler Park Chung-hee - years that were to be steeped in numbing tragedy, yet also leave her with enormous sense of duty. Now seen as a potential successor to unpopular [President] Roh [Moo-hyun] in 2007, she was dramatically thrown into role of First Lady to her father at age of just 22 when suspected North Korean agent shot dead her mother... in 1974. Gunman had been aiming at Park's father... Five years later, her father too was killed, by his disgruntled intelligence chief in a shootout... Park, who is unmarried, was easily elected leader of [Grand National Party] in 2004, month before a parliamentary election in which GNP had faced disaster over deep-rooted corruption... GNP...retained the great majority of its seats [however,] in a success attributed largely to Park's leadership and the fresh image she brought with her"; Reuters "S.Korea has Decade to Mature, Opposition Leader Says"NYT 04 Oct 05:-"South Korea needs to become an advanced country in the next decade or it probably never will [said] Park Geun-hye, leader of main opposition Grand National Party and one of country's most popular politicians. [She] also told Reuters the government had promised reforms but delivered little and made scant progress in ties with North Korea ...Park... said society was aging and polarizing fast and needed to act rapidly to move beyond its role as an emerging market with world's 11th-largest economy... South Korea has one of world's fastest aging populations... Park said Seoul's relations with communist North... had not progressed fundamentally. She said economic cooperation and exchanges with North were important, but not at any price. 'Whatever form it may take, I believe that it needs to enhance the quality of living for residents in both Koreas as well as expand human rights and freedom', she said"; Reuters"US has N.Korea Contacts Ahead of November Talks - Envoy"NYT 04 Oct 05:-"US officials have had regular contacts with North Korea through North's UN mission in NYC ahead of next round of six-country nuclear talks. [Hill] said he had no concrete plans to visit North Korea... But he said that before next round of talks scheduled for early Nov, he expected discussions among the six parties... Hill said expected more hard negotiating in Beijing. 'If you thought the principles were difficult, implementation will be even more difficult', he said"; Reuters"S.Korea to Send Nuclear Talks Envoy to US, China"NYT 05 Oct 05:-"South Korea's delegate to talks on North's nuclear aims is going to China and US to decide how to implement deal under which Pyongyang agreed to give up atomic weapons, FM said 05 Oct... Agreement struck in Beijing was thin on how [nuclear programs abandoned in return for aid] would be achieved in practice"; Reuters"N.Korea Planning to Ration Foodgrains - UN Official"NYT 05 Oct 05:-"North Korea might stop sale of foodgrains on open market and return to rationing system where staple will only be provided through distribution centers, WFP spokesman said... Analysts have said a rationing system... would also help strengthen hand of Pyongyang's leaders... North Korea provides daily ration now of about 250 grams of grain, or less than two bowls of rice, with its citizens using their own money to buy more staples at market. [WFP spokesman] said daily grain ration might increase to about 500-700 grams a day"; James Brooke"North Korea Says Bumper Crop Justifies Limits on Aid"NYT 06 Oct 05:-"After decade of reliance on food aid, Kim Jong Il, North Korean leader, declared 2005 'The Year of Agriculture'... After mass mobilizations of workers in Jun to plant rice, North Korean officials now say their overall crop is up 10% over last year's yield. With memories fading of famine that killed as much as 10% of North Korea's population of 22m in 1990s, according to estimates by international organizations, officials now cite this year's bumper rice and corn crops to justify new restrictions on foreign aid and foreign aid workers. By end of 2005, WFP, source of 90% of the aid here, is under orders from North Korea to shift from direct food to development aid. In addition, new government policies dictate that all foreign personnel from the 12 private aid groups operating from Pyongyang are to leave the country... North Korean officials say they want private aid projects to continue, but they want resident foreigners to leave, returning occasionally to monitor the work. Under these conditions... predicted that most aid groups would wind up their projects and leave... Now, to maintain flow of food deemed vital to most vulnerable one-third of population, UN officials are saying [WFP] was development aid all along... 'Out of the half a million tons we bring into the country every year, 75% is for classical development assistance, [Richard Ragan of WFP] said of food rations paid to workers on infrastructure projects. 'Anytime you are in a situation with a chronic food problem for a number of years, humanitarian and development aspect blur'... If crop is up by 10%, North Korea will still be short 700,00 to 800,000 tons"; AP"N. Korea Insists on Atomic Reactor"NYT 06 Oct 05:-"North Korea will not rejoin nuclear arms control treaties or allow international nuclear inspections until it receives an atomic reactor for power from US, a top diplomat told AP TV News [06 Oct]. 'In order to recover relations of trust between North Korea and US, the US should show its intent to turn words into actions', Kim Yong Guk, section chief of European department of North's FM, said in an interview with APTN. 'Physical foundation of consolidating trust between our nations is a light water reactor'. North's demand... has cast doubts on a breakthrough agreement"; Reuters"New U.S. Proposal on N.Korea Nuclear Programs: Kyodo"NYT 08 Oct 05:-"US has drafted proposal on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs that would call on the secretive state to declare all weapons and programs within six months, Kyodo news agency said [08 Oct]... According to US administration sources quoted by Kyodo, proposal would require North Korea to declare its nuclear activities through a two-stage process - a move that would allow the two nations to build up mutual confidence through a more prolonged verification period. Draft proposal calls for Pyongyang to make preliminary declaration once agreement reached at next round of talks, focusing on its current nuclear activities such as uranium enrichment and plutonium-based nuclear development. Based on this declaration, North Korea would immediately shut down all related facilities and halt all development activities, while related nuclear materials brought under international administration... North Korea would then be required to make a 'comprehensive' declaration, involving all of its nuclear facilities, related materials and equipment, within three to six months. Proposal also expected to call for securing right for challenging inspections, Kyodo said". AP"N. Korea Said Increases Food Distribution"NYT 08 Oct 05:-"North Korea is stepping up efforts to resume full-scale distribution of food across the country, a sign situation in communist nation is improving, UN relief agency said. WFP... said new ration cards have been issued to people and government has banned cereal sales at markets as it steps up its distribution program... WFP said it had monitored food rationing at a government distribution center... where people were 'lining up with newly printed ration cards and the warehouse was full with locally harvested maize and rice as well as rice recieved from [South]'... WFP said size of the ration had not been finalized... 'Ration sizes would not be determined until after the harvest has been completed', WFP said in its report"; AP"N. Korea Leader Said Considers Successor"NYT 08 Oct 05:-"South Korea's spy agency believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Il leans toward having his second son succeed him as head of communist country, a news report said [08 Oct]"; Reuters"China Vice Premier Meets N.Korea Leader - - Agencies"NYT 08 Oct 05:-"Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi has met reclusive Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, as Beijing stepped up efforts to secure fifth round of multinational talks aimed at defusing North's nuclear crisis. [H]eld talks with Kim [08 Oct], China's Xinhua News Agency reported amid gradually intensifying diplomatic efforts to push for yet more nuclear discussions"; AP"Kim Jing Il Said to Meet China Delegation"NYT 09 Oct 05:-"Kim... received message from China's president and met high-ranking delegation from Beijing for talks expected to deal with Pyongyang's nuclear program, North's state media reported [09 Oct 05]... Chinese delegation... expected to discuss issues surrounding Pyongyang's nuclear program"; AP"North Korea Calls for Stronger Military"NYT 09 Oct 05:-"North Korea promised to pursue stronger military as it marked major anniversary, but made no mention of its long-running nuclear standoff with outside world... [H]as world's fifth-largest military with total of more than 1.1m troops, backbone of leader Kim Jong Il's totalitarian rule"; AP"N. Korea Ruling Party Marks 60th Year"NYT 10 Oct 05:-"North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reviewed massive military parade [10 Oct] in Pyongyang as communist state marked 60th anniversary of its ruling party with vows to 'mercilessly crush' US imperialists if they attack. After thousands of goose-stepping soldiers, some with bayonet-tipped rifles, entered capital's main plaza in neat columns, Kim appeared at podium - sparking deafening applause from troops and audience members... Vice Marshal Kim Il Chol told crowd..., 'If US and Japanese imperialists and their followers ultimately ignite fire of war on this soil, we will mercilessly crush aggressors and achieve historic accomplishment of reunification of fatherland'... Event was followed by staging of spectacle including 100,000 performers in synchronized gymnastics. In none of celebrations, however, did communist state make mention of its long-running nuclear standoff with outside world"; Reuters"Military Pledges Support as N.Korea Ponders Future"NYT 10 Oct 05:-"North Korea marked ruling communist party's 60th anniversary with pledge by military to crush any attempt to topple leader Kim Jong-il amid outside speculation he may soon name an heir... 'If US, Japan and powers that follow them should create war on this land, we will punish them mercilessly', Defense Minister Kim Il-chol vowed"; Reuters"Eight N.Koreans Seek Asylum at School in China"NYT 11 Oct 05:-"Eight people believed to be North Koreans rushed into a South Korean school in Chinese city of Qingdao [11 Oct] seeking asylum in South, a South Korean FM spokeswoman said... South Korean officials asked China's ambassador to Seoul to give defectors safe passage to South Korea. [I]n separate incident China had sent home seven North Koreans who tried to defect in Aug at South Korean school, despite protests from Seoul. North Korean defectors living in South have said defectors sent back to North, as well as their families, often face long and harsh prison sentences. There are at least 200,000 North Koreans hiding in China waiting for chance to leave for another country, notably South Korea... [China] has hitherto generally allowed North Koreans who sought asylum at international schools or diplomatic missions in the country to travel to South, where North Koreans receive automatic citizenship"; Reuters"N.Koreans Dance Into Night, Shed No Light on Heir"NYT 11 Oct 05:-"North Koreans danced into night to celebrate ruling communist party's 60th birthday but there was no sign by [11 Oct] that leader Kim Jong-il had named a successor-in-waiting as some had speculated... The many signs and posters around Pyongyang made no mention of a possible successor or even that Kim has adult sons. He himself took over leadership in 1994 from his late father and state founder, Eternal President Kim Il-sung. Also conspicuously absent from streets were anti-US slogans which had previously taken up some of city's most coveted billboard space. But they may have been covered up... Kim would certainly have to lay groundwork for naming a successor by preparing powerful military and key communist cadres to back his choice, analysts said. North has population of about 22.5m, but has army numbering about 1.2m. Most of its armed forces are positioned near the heavily fortified border with South Korea... Pyongyang may be preoccupied with plans for next round of multilateral talks set for Nov on ending its nuclear weapons programs"; Financial Times"Foreign Policy: Tense Relations With China and North Korea"NYT 11 Oct 05:-"Japan's powerful intellectual right wing... to present a new set of policy recommendations for Japan's diplomacy with China[:].. Japan should assert itself, abandon conciliatory diplomacy, stop acting like a victim and stand up and be proud... Question of Japanese assertiveness is one that has played an increasing part in Asian diplomacy over past four years... It is [inter alia] locked in conflict with North Korea over the abduction of Japanese citizens by the communist state... [A]cademics argue Japan's foreign policy has indeed taken a new, interesting and assertive turn. John de Boer, Japan Fellow at Stanford University, said... 'Japanese government has gone to great lengths to present its [Iraq] participation as distinct from that of US... He says [it] is presenting a message of 'modernization without westernisation', a form of development that combines western technology with the values of the east"; AP"Envoy: North Korea Could Face Isolation"NYT 11 Oct 05:-"North Korea will find itself in 'wilderness of isolation' if walks away from landmark agreement to give up nuclear program but will see host of economic/diplomatic opportunities if deal sticks, [Christopher Hill,] chief US envoy for talks with the country said... Hill also suggested 5 permanent members UNSC could play role in verifying North Korea's disarmament if it happens... North Korea has much more to lose in next round of talks over its rogue nuclear program because it risks alienating other countries involved... But solid agreement could lead to stronger economic cooperation with South Korea and possibilities once considered remote: bilateral relations with US and possibility of removal from list of state sponsors of terrorism"; AP"S. Korea Wants to Regain Military Control"NYT 12 Oct 05:-"South Korea has proposed talks to take back wartime control of its military from US, [its] president's office said. South Korea transferred control of its forces to US-led UN command in 1950 that helped repel invading communists from North during Korean War"; AP"U.S. Deserter Discusses Life in N. Korea"NYT 12 Oct 05:-"As a 24-year-old sergeant, he abandoned his Army unit and fled to North Korea in 1965. He stayed there for 39 years, appearing in propaganda films and teaching English. He later testified he fled Army to avoid service in Vietnam. In 1980 he married a [kidnapped] Japanese citizen... In his [autobiography, in Japanese only,] denies defecting to North Korea for ideological reasons"; Reuters"US Seeks Irishman Over N. Korea Counterfeit Cash"NYT 12 Oct 05:-"US seeking extradiction from Britain of senior member of an Irish Republican Army splinter group on charges of conspiring with North Korea to circulate counterfeit US currency... US has cracked down on North Korean criminal activities, including counterfeiting/drug smuggling/weapons proliferation. Pyongyang dismisses such accusations as part of a US plot to topple its communist system... North Korean defectors have said Pyongyang uses its embassies as conduits for contraband and North Korean diplomats have been caught with goods ranging from hashish to banned wildlife parts, since 1970s"; Reuters"Foreigners Kept Back From N.Korean Industrial Park"NYT 13 Oct 05:-"Nearly a year after North Korean industrial park started shipping goods to South in what seen as tentative step toward market reform, there is little sign of any trickle-down effect on its economy... Foreign journalists taken to outskirts of park,... but were allowed only glimpse of cluster of buildings on horizon... Critics say Kaesong Industrial Park, home to clothing and kitchenware firms among others, faces stiff competition from nearby, low-cost China... There was no sign of industrial life outside park, which is still in its early stages... But...a cross-border railway track will soon be inaugurated"; Steven R.Weisman"A U.S. Democrat to Go to North Korea for Nuclear Talks"NYT 14 Oct 05:-"Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, [and] UN ambassador in Clinton administration who has long maintained contacts with North Korea, will travel to Pyongyang for talks aimed at persuading North to give up nuclear arms program. [H]e would not represent US as official representative, but trip intended 'to move diplomatic process forward'... There remains wide gap on the timing, and on what inspection routine North might accept. In addition, impasse continues over North Korea's demand for light water nuclear reactor... Governor's intention was to present to North Korea some expert thinking on its food, health and energy problems with implication such help more forthcoming in event of a deal on its nuclear programs"; AP"Richardson Heads to North Korea for Talks" NYT 14 Oct 05:-"Richardson said in interview with AP 'I am supportive of Secretary Rice's efforts to engage North Koreans with diplomacy, and I believe the last round of six-party talks produced the most results ever'... North Koreans [invited him for second time this year] in summer, but Richardson said he would not go unless State Department supported his effort... [He] is being provided USAF plane for trip... As congressman from New Mexico in 1994, Richardson helped arrange release of US soldier whose helicopter had strayed into North Korean airspace. In 1996, he helped secure release of American detained by North Korea for three months on spy charges. Richardson has maintained his contacts with North Korea, briefing then-Secretary of State Colin Powell. In 2003, months after North Korea admitted having violated terms of 1994 Clinton-era accord freezing its nuclear program, top North Korean envoys went to Santa Fe with Richardson"; AP"U.S. to Press North Korea on Nukes"NYT 17 Oct 05:-"Bill Richardson... said [17 Oct] he would press communist country for 'concrete steps' to dismantle its atomic weapons program and commitment to allow verification that it will remain nuclear-free... [A]lso told AP he would urge North Korean officials to cooperate with humanitarian organizations and allow them to operate more freely in the reclusive country... Richardson said he would push North Koreans to commit to specific steps to implement [Beijing] agreement... Governor was accompanied by public health, energy and other officials from [New Mexico. H]e hoped their presence would show North Koreans what kind of assistance they could expect in return for giving up nuclear weapons... For Richardson, who's considered a likely presidential contender in 2008, trip offers a potential chance to display his foreign policy know-how"; Reuters"All in the Family for North Korean Leadership"NYT 17 Oct 05:-"North Korea is keeping mum on possible successor to Kim Jong-il, but one thing certain: in country where leaders revered as gods, regime will be keeping it all in family... World's only communist dynasty has turned reverence for Kims into national religion, and analysts say succession will almost certainly fall to one of the three sons... With Kim Jong-il same age his father was when he made him secretary to Central Committee of Worker's Party of Korea - appointment seen as tantamount to being named successor - speculation is mounting... With cult of personality sustained in part by isolated regime's feeling of being under siege, North Koreans are ready to die for the Kim clan"; Reuters"China's Hu Likely to Visit North Korea This Month - Kyodo"NYT 18 Oct 05:-"President Hu Jintao likely to visit North Korea at end of month and meet with leader Kim Jong-il for discussions on North's nuclear weapons program, Kyodo news agency said. [Visit] is part of diplomatic maneuvering before new round of six-party talks scheduled for Nov... Hu and Kim will discuss process through which Pyongyang will abandon its nuclear weapons program, as well as bilateral economic cooperation"; AP"U.S. Commitment to Nuke Accord Questioned"NYT 18 Oct 05:-"North Korea said it doubted Washington's commitment to a landmark accord reached at last nuclear talks, criticizing recent US allegation that communist nation was involved in money laundering activities [see Reuters 12 Oct]... [S]pokesman for North's FM said US allegation was 'nothing but a version of trite psychological warfare conducted by US administration to justify its hostile policy' toward North... 'If US persists in its hostile acts... DPRK [North Korea] will be left with no option but to take self-defense steps to cope with those acts', spokesman said, without explaining what those steps would be"; Reuters"North Korea Must Declare Nuke Plans: Seoul"NYT 20 Oct 05:-"North Korea must disclose full extent of nuclear weapons programs at next round of talks as part of detailed action plan to resolve crisis, South Korea's FM said. Ban Ki-moon also told reporters South Korea, Japan, US, Russia and China must in turn provide detailed plan of economic assistance to North at talks, expected to start early Nov. 'Action plan must involve conscientious declaration of nuclear weapons programs, its other nuclear programs and related facilities that North Korea must dismantle', Ban said"; Reuters"North Korea Says Reconsidering Business with South"NYT 20 Oct 05:-"North Korea is reconsidering how it does business with South because its main partner, part of Hyundai Group conglomerate, sacked an executive with close ties to leader Kim Jong-il, North said [20 Oct]. Earlier in month Hyundai Asan, subsidiary that handles projects worth about $1 billion in North, severed its last tie with Kim Yoon-kyu, who had already been sacked as president of firm in Aug for what company said was draft. 'This incident has proven Hyundai's lack of trust', said a North Korean spokesman, quoted by official KCNA news agency. 'We will have to reexamine and readjust all business conducted with Hyundai'. Although it was not immediately clear whether Pyongyang would follow through on the rhetoric, any undermining of Hyundai Asan's role at an industrial park and tourist resort in the North could have a potentially profound effect on bilateral relations just as they seemed to be gradually warming. Hyundai Asan was seemingly surprised by the comments"; AP"Richardson Meets N. Korea's No. 2 Leader"NYT 20 Oct 05:-"Gov. Bill Richardson... met with North Korea's No. 2 leader [20 Oct] as he tried to press Pyongyang for specifics on how it plans to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, communist nation's official media reported. Meeting came day after Richardson toured North Korea's main nuclear research facility at Yongbyon... Also at meeting was Pyongyang's chief negotiator to nuclear talks, KCNA said"; Reuters"Rumsfeld Talks with S.Korea on Seoul's Defense Role"NYT 20 Oct 05:-"US Defense Secretary held talks with long-term ally eager to take on a greater role defending peninsula half a century after bitter war with communist North... It was not clear how much if at all US will agree yet to Seoul's desire to take on wartime control [passed to US in Korean War]... South Korean President Roh said on 01 Oct it was time South took on greater responsibility for its defense to better reflect its growing status as economic power... US military official based in Seoul said defense mechanism of Korean peninsula was unlikely to change in near future... US has about 34,000 troops reinforcing South's 690,000 troops"; Brian Knowlton"Former Powell Aide Says Bush Policy Is Run by 'Cabal'"NYT 20 Oct 05:-"Secretary of State Colin Powell's former chief of staff has offered remarkably blunt criticism of administration he served, saying that foreign policy had been usurped by a 'Cheney-Rumsfeld cabal', and that President Bush has made the country more vulnerable, not less, to future crises. Lawrence Wilkerson, who worked for Powell 2001-2005... suggested that secrecy, arrogance and internal feuding had taken a heavy toll in Bush administration, skewing its policies and undercutting its ability to handle crises. 'I would say we have courted disaster, in Iraq, in North Korea, in Iran, generally with regard to domestic crises like Katrina, Rita - and I could go on back', he said... 'What I saw was a cabal between vice president of US, Richard Cheney, and secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, on critical issues', he said. Former aide referred to Bush as someone who 'is not versed in international relations, and not too much interested in them either'"; James Brooke"North Korea Ready for Talks, U.S. Envoy Says"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"North Korea is 'fully committed' to return to nuclear disarmament talks in Nov and is showing 'flexibility' on conditions for obtaining a light-water reactor, US envoy to North said in Tokyo. 'They showed me flexibility on the light-water reactor issue', Gov. Bill Richardson, New Mexico, said in interview... 'In my view, it is an important issue, but not a deal breaker'... 'They are returning to talks with a commitment to denuclearizing, but they want words for words, actions for actions', he said. In [Richardson's] meetings, North Koreans also agreed to allow most foreign aid workers to stay in country. Last month, North Korea had given 31 Dec deadline for foreigners working for private aid groups to leave and had ordered WFP to change its aid from 'humanitarian' to 'development'. 'North Koreans basically reversed their position on the aid issue; basically date of expulsion now not operational'... WFP will be allowed to keep 30 foreign aid workers, slightly fewer than their current allotment... Allowing North to save face, on foreign aid and on nuclear program, is a key to making progress with proud and often isolated government, he said... At usually off-limits nuclear research complex, he said he saw no evidence that the weapons fuel had been made... He said he had asked North Koreans how many bombs they had. 'Their response implied they have them, but that they have a very low number', Richardson said, believing the number to be 'the lower edge of single digits'"; AP"China Leader to Visit N. Korea Next Week"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"China's President Hu Jintao will visit North Korea next week, amid international efforts to convince the isolated country to stop developing nuclear weapons, Chinese government announced [21 Oct]... Hu was invited to the North by its leader, Kim Jong-Il"; Reuters"China's Hu to Visit N.Korea Ahead of Nuclear Talks"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"Hu's visit will be his first as China's president and is likely to focus on the six-country talks hosted by China... Hu will visit North Korea between 28 and 30 Oct"; AP"North Korea Could Return to Nuclear Talks"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"[Richardson:] North Korea committed to unconditionally resuming talks on its atomic weapons program and returning to international nuclear nonproliferation pact. [He also]said North had pledged to allow outside oversight of its disarmament. However, Richardson also said North Korean still running nuclear facilities believed to be at center of their weapons program, and had reprocessed spent nuclear fuel this year into plutonium, a raw material for nuclear bombs... [He] said North Korean officials had a more positive attitude toward US and were more open about their nuclear activities than they have been in past... Pyongyang, for example, guaranteed it would attend next round of six-party talks... without conditions... 'I believe they're sending signals of wanting to engage, but there are some tough negotiations ahead', Richardson said... Officials he spoke to... suggested they would allow US and others to closely monitor the operation of the reactor to ensure none of spent fuel diverted to weapons production... 'I urged them in strongest possible terms to shut down reactor during the six-party talks as sign of good faith', Richardson said, adding that suggestion was under consideration. Richardson said that he pressed his hosts about the number of nuclear weapons they had produced, but got no clear answer. 'My sense was two (bombs), perhaps; that's my sense', he said"; Reuters"N.Korea to Return to Nuclear Talks Soon: Richardson"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"'North Korea will return to the talks in early Nov unconditionally', Richardson... told reporters in Tokyo after [his] four-day visit... Richardson said he saw signs Pyongyang was willing to moderate demand [on a light-water nuclear reactor]... [He] said North Korea was prepared for oversight of the light-water reactor by US and other parties to the talks, as well as IAEA"; Reuters"US Says Open to Discussing S.Korea Defense Ideas"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"Responding to South Korea's bid for a greater role in its own defense, US Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said Washington was open to discussing Seoul's desire to assume wartime control of its troops... US officials briefing reporters on Rumsfeld's meeting[s]...said he told them he welcomed the 'bold ideas' that are coming from Seoul on transforming 52-year alliance...Defense chiefs of South Korea and US said in joint communique after [21 Oct] talks they had 'agreed to appropriately accelerate discussions on command relations and wartime operational control"; Thom Shanker"U.S. to Speed Up Talks on South Korea's Military, Rumsfeld Says"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and his South Korean counterpart reaffirmed commitment of both nations to 'solid combined defense posture' today, and agreed to accelerate discussions on whether South Korea should retain command of its military forces in time of war... Under current agreements, South Korean armed forces are under South Korean command during peacetime, but fall under US command in case of war... Some [South Korean] political figures call for a reassessment of US nuclear umbrella extended over South, arguing that it now may be a hurdle to reaching a final deal to dismantle North Korea's nuclear program... Rumsfeld...hinted that a shift in rules of command over South Korean forces in time of war may be inevitable"; Thom Shanker"Rumsfeld and South Korea Chief Agree to Keep Status Quo"NYT 21 Oct 05:-Almost identical to previous report; Reuters"UN Food Aid Work in N.Korea to Continue: Richardson"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"There will be sharp cut in UN food aid agency's operation because Pyongyang wanted help to build industries instead, Richardson told reporters... 'What the new agreement calls for is, one, the aid workers in the WFP can stay, but they probably will have to stay under a renewed definition of what development aid is'... 'I believe it was a show of good faith by North Korea but the devil is in the details', he said... WFP country director... said he was in talks with North about agency's future role. Pyongyang might still recognize the dire need faced by those living in poverty in the country continues to require direct emergency assistance... Seoul said [20 Oct] it would soon begin a monitoring visit to the North following shipment of 200,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid to North"; AP"China's President to Visit North Korea"NYT 21 Oct 05:-"'Nuclear issue will inevitably be on Hu's agenda', said Gong Keyu, North Korea specialist at Shanghai Institute of Foreign Studies. 'During visit, China may on the one hand exert pressure on North Korea to give concessions, and on the other hand offer more help in return', Gong said. 'Economic aid and North Korean economic reform also will be on the agenda for Hu's visit'"; Reuters"N.Korea Wants World to Run Atomic Plant: Richardson"NYT 22 Oct 05:-"North Korea's eagerness to make progress at nuclear talks appears genuine enough to involve specific proposal to ensure its pursuit of civilian nuclear plan is proliferation-safe, key US figures said [22 Oct]... Deputy head of Richardson's delegation... said Pyongyang was willing to let other countries be involved in a civilian nuclear plan to address proliferation concerns... 'What we found on this occasion was further flexibility and an elaboration on some ideas that actually had been advanced at six-party talks', he said... But Washington averse to supply of any reactors even with all available safeguards measures firmly in place, including Pyongyang's return to NPT and its acceptance of [IAEA] inspectors... '[North's] view is that what needs to be addressed is the light-water reactor', Richardson said"; Economist 22 Oct 05"America and a Nuclear India: Bend Them, Break Them"(Edit.16-8); "Diplomact and Proliferation: Nuclear Confusion"(31-2):-Editorial expresses concern about "The dangers in breaking the anti-nuclear rules to please India" and recalls that US President Bush "aims to lever North Korea out of the bomb-building business", but intends to be generous to bomb-building India. It concludes: "Sorting out which nuclear materials it is sensible to sell, under what conditions and to whom, is going to get harder. Many countries see nuclear power as a way to meet demands for cleaner energy. Like India or Iran [or North Korea], all will need fuel that could be misused for bomb-making, so new rules are needed. But unless they are based on fairness to those who keep them, not favouritism to those who don't, they will deter no one". The major article on US policies asks: "Does George Bush want to curb proliferation or court allies? He can't easily do both" and also refers to Korean case: "North Korea insists it has built the bomb already [as India does], but now wants US to provide it with a modern light-water reactor as the price for disarming. Congress would be apoplectic if administration agreed, though that is just the sort of reactor India might like too"; David E.Sanger"U.S. Widens Campaign on North Korea"NYT 23 Oct 05:-"Bush administration is expanding what it calls 'defensive measures' against North Korea, urging nations from China to former Soviet states to deny overflight rights to aircraft that US says are carrying weapons technology, according to two senior administration officials. At the same time, officials said, administration is accelerating effort to place radiation detectors at land crossings and at airports throughout Central Asia. Devices are intended to monitor North Koreans and the risk that nuclear weapons material could be removed from facilities in former Soviet states. New campaign was speeded up this summer after a previously undisclosed incident in Jun, when US satellites tracked an Iranian cargo plane landing in North Korea. The two countries have a history of missile trade - Iran's Shahab missile is a derivative of a North Korean design - and intelligence officials suspected plane was picking up missile parts... Bush administration officials began urging nations in area to deny plane right to fly over their territory. China and at least one Central Asian nation cooperated, according to senior officials, who confined outlines of incident to demonstrate that President Bush's strategy to curb proliferation... is showing results... Officials believed Iranian plane left without its cargo, but they were not sure. Nonetheless, new effort underscored efforts administration is undertaking to curb North's exports of missile parts, drugs and counterfeit currency widely believed to be its main source of revenue and the way it finances its nuclear program... South Korea's government... has been privately warning against taking steps that would aggravate North Korea... Russia has expressed similar concerns about pressuring Iran... US efforts to exert more pressure on both North Korea and Iran... are expected to figure in [Moscow] discussions... New administration effort has three components... First is to block sale of any bomb material or radioactive material from North Korea. Second is to beef up anti-proliferation efforts, including denying overflight rights... Third...is to step up 'counterproliferation', which involves preparing nations to counter chemical or biological weapons, and work out ways to defend against a missile attack"; Reuters"Death of N.Korean Aide Not Seen Heralding Change"NYT 24 Oct 05:-"Death of North Korea's No. 3 official and a close confidant of Kim Jong-il is part of a slow passing of the old guard but is unlikely to change nature of reclusive state soon... Yon Hyong-muk, vice-chairman of powerful National Defense Commission, died [22 Oct]... But analysts said Yon's role in recent years had been largely ceremonial and his death did not mean change was imminent... 'What's at stake more than ever is whether we can accomplish anti-dictatorial unification of not', said former [Workers' Party] official who reached Seoul in 1997... 'We believe national cooperation in the true sense is possible when we join with the people of North Korea, not the North Korean regime', said... leader of a human rights group in South... So far, call for greater pressure on North to encourage better practices has gone largely unheeded by Seoul, which has put top priority on engaging the North... Seoul believes years of engaging North have just begun bearing fruit, as it prepares to open a liaison office in the North for South Korean business and to resume mulitnational talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs. But some feel a broader approach is needed"; Reuters"N. Korea Nuclear Talks May Start Nov 8 - Report"NYT 24 Oct 05:-"Next round of talks... may start 08 Nov, Japanese newspaper reported. North Korea said it would attend new round of talks [and] also said Japan and North could resume bilateral talks for first time in nearly a year... Spokesman for North's FM... questioned whether Washington prepared to stick to deal reached last month"; Reuters"N.Korea Tels South 21 POWs, Abductees Still Alive"NYT 25 Oct 05:-"Ten South Korean prisoners of war and 11 civilian abductees still alive in North Korea, South Korean Unification Ministry said. North Korea gave number in response to request for information about 50 prisoners of war who went missing during 1950-53 Korean War and another 50 people South believes North abducted since then... While North's response unprecedented, figures are far below the more than 540 POWs [that] many in the South believe are still alive in North. Nearly 500 civilian abductees also believed to be alive - many, fishermen"; AP"Japan, N. Korea to Hold Talks Next Week"NYT 26 Oct 05:-"Japan and North Korea will hold talks on nuclear weapons program and other bilateral issues starting 03 Nov in Beijing... 'Talks will involve not only nuclear issue but also missiles and the abductee issue, for which high interest in Japan', FM said... North Korea is eager to establish diplomatic relations with Japan in hopes of receiving financial and technical assistance"; AP "China's President Meets N. Korean Leader"NYT 28 Oct 05:-"China's president [Hu Jintao] flew to North Korea [28 Oct] to meet with reclusive leader Kim Jong Il ahead of new nuclear talks and was greeted by cheering crowds of thousands on a rare visit by a leader of North's last major ally... Chinese TV estimated size of crowd at 100,000... While Beijing says it wants a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, it has not pressured North Korea publicly"; Reuters"Koreas Open First Joint Office in North Amid Row"NYT 28 Oct 05:-"North and South Korea opened their first joint office [28 Oct] to promote trade across heavily militarized border - just as Pyongyang feuding with a South Korean company [Hyundai Asan - see above] about business in North... New office [is] in an industrial park near city of Kaesong,.. just across 1953 ceasefire line... After the opening, two Koreas held economic cooperation talks at office, but failed to reach meaningful agreement. Office will be staffed by 14 South Korean and 12 North Korean officials - each country on separate floor. It aims to help firms reach deals directly rather than through others or in third countries, such as China... Overall ties have improved in recent months. Two sides have reached numerous agreements on agricultural cooperation, business development and economic assistance... Held talks in Kaesong to try to decide when to run a test train along a track built across frontier to Kaesong. Still unclear when first train would run. Eventually, sides hope that rail line, and another one running up east coast of peninsula, could link up with trans-Siberian route and another one through China, reducing freight times to Europe and earning North transit revenue"; Reuters"Envoys Meet in Seoul Ahead of N.Korea Nuclear Talks"NYT 29 Oct 05:-"China's top diplomat for Korean affairs met South Korean officials... as part of a rush of diplomatic discussions... Chief US envoy, Christopher Hill, will arrive in Seoul for a one-day visit for talks with his South Korean counterpart"; AP"Kim Praises China's Efforts in Nuke Talks"NYT 29 Oct 05:-"North Korea's leader [Kim Jong Il] praised Beijing's effort to ensure peace on Korean Peninsula... China... is under pressure from US and other governments to use its leverage as North Korea's main ally and aid donor to push Pyongyang for concessions... Kim told [Chinese President Hu Jintao] that North was committed to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, according to Chinese media. 'North Korean side will participate as scheduled in fifth round of six-nation talks', Chinese state TV quoted Kim as saying... Hu is expected to press Kim to institute Chinese-style reforms in hopes of reviving North's decrepit, state-control economy"; Joseph Kahn"China's Leader in a Rare Visit to North Korea"NYT 29 Oct 05:-"Chinese state news media quoted officials as saying that [Ho] visit... aimed at discussing wide range of economic/ political issues, including upcoming continuation of negotiations. China supplies crucial food and energy supplies to North Korea and has been pressing it to make a deal to scrap its atomic weapons"; AP"North Koreans Yet to Benefit From Reforms"NYT 29 Oct 05:-"Deserted Taesong Department Store... wares are well beyond reach of most people in this isolated, impoverished nation...Government has released few details, but foreign aid agencies say that besides letting farmers sell some of their own crops, reforms have raised wages and cut subsidies. But most of country's 22m still depend on foreign food aid and are struggling with inflation set off by the economic changes... North Korean officials insist the reforms are working... According to South Korea's central bank, North Korea's economy grew about 2.2% last year, due largely to a bigger harvest... Outsiders still know little about the specific effects of the reform... Nicholas Eberstadt of American Enterprise Institute, Washington think tank, gave interview... Neighbours China and South Korea are the country's biggest economic partners. China says trade last year totaled $1.4b. South Korea expects its trade to hit a record high of $1b this year, chiefly because the two Koreas have opened a joint venture marrying southern technology and northern cheap labor... Kaesong to host 15 South Korean firms by end of year... 'Biggest constraint ... government's fear that economic opening up and reform will unleash social and political changes that will threaten political control', said Eberstadt. 'If you look at other communist governments, when has policy changed? It's always with new leadership'"; AP"N. Korea Says U.S. Pressure Hurts Talks"NYT 29 Oct 05:-"North Korea said [29 Oct] that US pressure over human rights and other issues threatens the future of international talks... It said such US pressure could heighten tensions and 'hamstring the process for denuclearizing Korean Peninsula'"; Reuters"N.Korea's Kim Wants Talks to Succeed, Says China"NYT 30 Oct 05:-"North Korean leader Kim Jong-il expects next round of six-party talks on North's nuclear program to begin as scheduled and is committed to their success, Chinese official said [30 Oct]"; Joseph Kahn"Chinese Upbeat After Talks With North Korea"NYT 30 Oct 05:-"North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, has told President Hu Jintao of China that he is committed to ending North's nuclear weapons program and that he will push forward with multinational negotiations on the matter soon, Chinese officials said. Upbeat assessment... was issued shortly after Hu concluded state visit to North Korea... Hu promised during visit to provide aid to... struggling economy 'within China's means'... 'We have reason to believe fifth round of talks will be held on schedule and lead to results' said [chief of CCP international department]... China has energetically served as host of nuclear talks and has prodded the participants, especially US and North Korea, to make concessions"; James Brooke"Commerce Sends South Korea Across DMZ"NYT 31 Oct 05:-"Just north of demilitarized zone [DMZ], brigade of men... labored recently erecting steel structure size of an airport terminal. Next summer, officials at this North Korean immigration building are to be stamping passports for South Korean tourists at rate of 1,500/day. Tourist battalions are to roll north across DMZ on a new road and new railroad, both built by South Korea. Motorcades of buses already; test trains to start this fall... Traffic surging through two holes in DMZ indicates that South Korea is reaching out to North Korea as never before. Behind some of this new push is fear... North...could become economic colony of China... Now...1,000 South Koreans per day cross border as a trickle has become in recent months a healthy flow of buses, trucks, and private cars... Fast-growing exposure... pushing some South Koreans toward opposition to US confrontation with North... After investing billions in China, some South Korean companies looking north to a Korean-speaking labor force willing to work for some of lowest wages in Northeast Asia... One year after first section of Kaesong industrial park opened, 4,100 North Koreans now work for 15 South Korean companies. This fall, 25 more South Korean companies building factories in park, and 700 more are on waiting list. Electricity comes from South Korea... By 2020, [Hyundai] hopes Kaesong will have 600,000 North Koreans working for 2,000 South Korean companies, producing $16b worth of goods/year... This year, trade and aid across border expected to hit $1b"; Reuters"N.Korea Says US Spy Flights Hurt Nuclear Talks"NYT 31 Oct 05:-"North Korea said US conducted at least 180 espionage flights in Oct, adding the missions hurt chances for a settlement in talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs... 'These aerial espionage flights clearly prove US imperialists are desperately trying to stifle DBRK [North] militarily behind the scene, though giving lip-service to negotiated settlement of nuclear issue', North's official KCNA news agency reported"; AP"U.N. Agency Says N. Korea Could Lose Aid"NYT 31 Oct 05:-"North Korea risks losing critical food aid by insisting that foreign agencies shift from humanitarian to development work, UN World Food Program official [Ragan] said. WFP and other aid agencies are cutting back operations at North Korean government's request, but they say country still needs foreign aid to feed its people. [More] talks between WFP and North Korean officials are scheduled for mid-Nov... WFP provides North with 500,000 tons of food aid/year, enough to feed about 6.5m people... WFP also is asking North for better access to areas around the country in order to monitor aid distribution and to be allowed to expand training programs and related developmental assistance, Ragan said. Developmental rather than humanitarian aid 'takes more people. It takes more money. It takes more flexibility on the part of the government', Ragan said"; Reuters"US Says Negotiator Misquoted on N.Korea Talks"/AP"Korean Nuke Negotiator's Remarks Clarified"[at least two versions]NYT 31 Oct 05:-items eventually report Christopher Hill described insulting statement ("Do you want to die, bastard?") by North Korean diplomat in US as "inexcusable"; Reuters "Japan, N.Korea Spar Ahead of Talks"NYT 01 Nov 05:-"Japan and North Korea begin their first full-fledged talks in more than 3 years, seeking to resolve long-standing disputes that have blocked Asian neighbours from establishing diplomatic ties. But even before they sit down at negotiating table in Beijing, the former bitter enemies sparred over issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago, main sticking points in their talks... A failure to improve ties could hamper six-party process ...because Tokyo reluctant to give large-scale aid to Pyongyang in return for abandoning its nuclear ambitions... Tokyo has offered full-scale financial aid to impoverished North Korea, but only after diplomatic ties are established... At UN in NYC, Japanese amb... accused Pyongyang of failing to explain the situation. North Korea's envoy reacted angrily... North expected to press for settlement of issues stemming from Japan's harsh 35-year colonial rule of Korean peninsula until 1945. PM Junichiro Koizumi apologized... but rejected demands for reparations... Some analysts have said Tokyo could provide up to $10b to impoverished North... North Korea has admitted abducting 13 people, 5 of whom have returned to Japan with their childrem. Pyongyang says the other 8 are dead. But Japan has been pressing for further information... North Korea says the matter is closed, but... considering demands on the issue... Pyongyang has warned that any imposition of sanctions by Japan would be tantamount to declaration of war"; Reuters"Two Koreas to Compete as Single Team at Games"NYT 01 Nov 05:-"North and South Korea agreed to compete as single team for first time at 2006 Asian Games and at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, South Korean official said. North and South Korea have been bitter ideological - and sporting - rivals for more than 50 years and are gradually building closer relations across Demilitarised Zone"; Norimitsu Onishi"The Two Koreas Agree to Field a Unified Olympic Team in 2008"NYT 02 Nov 05:-"In another sign of reconciliation on Korean Peninsula, officials from the two [Koreas] issued short statement agreeing to unified team after a 3-hour meeting in Macau, where Korean athletes competing in East Asian games... The two Koreas, divided for more than half-century, have tried to despatch unified teams as far back as 1964 Tokyo Olympics... They succeeded only in fielding a unified team for a table tennis and youth soccer tournment in early 1990's... Neither side talks of actual reunification of peninsula in near future. South Korea, fearful that sudden reunification would damage its economy and lower its hard-won standard of living, seeks to engage North and shrink economic gap between the sides before aiming at reunification decades from now. North is also believed to be against immediate reunification, because its leaders... would be likely to lose their positions to their richer cousins"; Reuters"Hurdles Ahead for Two Koreas' Single Olympic Team"NYT 02 Nov 05:-"South Korea hailed a deal by South and North Korea to field their first joint Olympic team as a step toward unification, but critics cautioned uniting peninsula was far more difficult than playing nice together"; Reuters"US Would Retrain N.Korea Nuclear Scientists" NYT 02 Nov 05:-"US will offer details of its proposals to retrain thousands of North Korean nuclear scientists and engineers for more peaceful pursuits when six-country negotiations resume, a top US negotiator said... US special envoy for North Korea said he expected talks to be productive as negotiators focus on 'actions for actions' needed to make progress toward agreement aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. He said it was hoped North Korea's denuclearization could be accomplished within 2 years, but many experts continue to doubt Pyongyang ready to give up its nuclear trump card. Removing North Korea from US list of states accused of sponsoring terrorism is also under discussion"; Reuters"N.Korea Nuclear Talks to Resume Next Week - - Seoul"NYT 01[sic] Nov 05:-"South Korea expects six-party talks... to resume next week for relatively short session to pave the way for more concerted discussions later, foreign minister said... Session would be devoted largely to airing positions on how to implement a set of principles agreed by the six countries in Sep, Ban said"; AP"Official: N. Korea Nuke Talks to Resume"NYT 02 Nov 05:-"South Korea's point man on North Korea said... consultations under way among the participants on how to advance the talks... China said [01 Nov] it was trying to get its negotiating partners to set a date within next 10 days for new talks following personal visit to North Korea by Chinese President Hu Jintao. South Korea drafting roadmap on how to implement agreement reached at latest round of nuclear talks, and conveyed its proposal to US for consultations. Also on [02 Nov], North denounced US for freezing US-based assets of 8 North Korean entities, describing move as 'pouring cold water' on its 'sincere' efforts toward next round of the nuclear talks. Last month, US prohibited transactions between the companies and US citizens and froze any assets they may have under US jurisdiction... North also threatened to take unspecified countermeasures"; AP"China: Korean Nuke Talks Will Start Nov. 9"NYT 03 Nov 05:-"Next round of talks... will begin 09 Nov in Beijing, Chinese government said [03 Nov], appealing to participants to be ready to make progress in slow-moving negotiations... 'If parties concerned could... make progress regarding contents listed in joint statement at last round, that will be considered positive progress' [Chinese FM spokesman] said. He appealed to parties to 'take an active and constructive attitude'. Russia's chief delegate to talks... cautioned that negotiators face hard work... US and others want a timetable for international inspections. North Korea has refused to disarm without getting concessions along the way, while Washington has said it wants to see the weapons programs dismantled before granting rewards"; Reuters"China Says N.Korea Six - Party Talks to Start Wed"NYT 03 Nov 05:-"Beijing has an 'open attitude' toward the length of the talks, Chinese FM spokesman said... 'Maybe chief negotiators would accompany their heads of state to [mid-Nov] APEC meeting. Under this situation we could achieve better results if we hold talks in several phases', [he] told regular news briefing. 'Of course this idea preliminary, and hope to hear what each side thinks about it. As host country, China will actively make efforts with other sides to achieve new positive results'... In letter to UNSG.,. Pyongyang's UN envoy... accused Washington of 'staging smear campaign' against North Korea, and said North doubted whether Washington willing to implement Sep deal, state-run KCNA news agency reported"; Reuters"Abductions Take Center Stage at NKorea - Japan Talks"NYT 03 Nov 05:-"North Korea's abduction of Japanese citizens decades ago took center at opening of talks in Beijing between former bitter enemies. Meetings... first comprehensive talks between Japan and North Korea since Oct 02. 'Both sides stated their views on issues of concern seriously', Japanese chief delegate... told reporters"; AP "North Korea Lets Japanese Defector Go Home"NYT 04 Nov 05:-"North allowed a Japanese woman who defected to communist nation two years ago to return to her homeland... Reportedly once a government mole in a Japanese doomsday cult, [she] jumped off a ferry and swam across a river between China and North Korea in 2003 seeking asylum"; Reuters"Japan, N.Korea End Talks with No Agreement"NYT 04 Nov 05:-"Ended two days of talks with no visible progress in long-standing disputes that have blocked the Asian neighbours from forging diplomatic ties"; AP"North Korea Urges Women to Wear Dresses"NYT 04 Nov 05:-"Communist government is urging women to wear traditional Korean clothes instead of pants, according to North Korean monthly magazine. 'US imperialists maneuvering to spread the rotten bourgeois lifestyle inside North Korea' magazine said... Campaign comes as North struggles to tighten its control over an influx of outside influences... Country's loosely controlled border with China has led recently to increased traffic in smuggled recordings of music and videos from the outside"; Reuters"US, Japan May Propose N.Korea Human Rights Group"NYT 04 Nov 05:-"Japan and US may propose establishment of a working group on human rights in North Korea when talks... begin next week, Kyodo news agency said. Report came a day after talks between Japan and North Korea ended without any progress on key issues... Kyodo said that both China and US wanted to reach an agreement to set up groups on specific issues in effort to resolve them... Kyodo said Pyongyang likely to propose a working group on its demand for light-water civilian nuclear reactor before it abandons its weapons programs"; AP"N. Korea Chafes at U.N. Human Rights Plan"NYT 05 Nov 05:-"North Korea has accused US of attempting to overthrow communist regime with a human rights law, and warned of an 'ultra hard-line' response if it does so, according to North Korean news report [05 Nov]... Delegate issued the warning before UNGA in NYC [31 Oct] said the report... North's delegate also berated EU over its efforts to introduce a resolution on North's human rights to UNGA... Between 150,000 and 200,000 people are believed to be held in prison camps for political reasons, US State Department report said"; Economist 05 Nov 05"China: Here's Hu"(45-6):-a description of President Hu Jintao's globetrotter interests; the first half of deals with his trip to Pyongyang; the remainder to the rest of the world. "His flurry of trips abroad this year... included his first state visit to North Korea, where Hu has been capitalising on global concerns about the country's nuclear ambitions to establish China as a broker of peace... North Korea's Kim Jong Il gave Hu face by pledging to continue its involvement in six-country talks hosted by China... North Koreans said they would uphold vague agreement reached at last round of talks in Sep, which committed country to abandoning its nuclear-weapons projects, rejoining NPT and submitting to safeguards of IAEA... Hu's diplomacy has been sweetened by handouts. He and Kim toured a recently completed $30m glass factory close to Pyongyang, donated by the Chinese. Hu also attended signing of an agreement on economic and technical cooperation... It suggests that China remains committed to propping up its neighbour's tattered economy. Such a high-profile visit implies that China is reasonably confident that talks not about to collapse. A breakdown would be a setback for Hu, who - unusually given China's normal preference for back-seat diplomacy - has decided his country should play anactive role in trying to resolve the crisis"; Reuters"S.Korea Ponders UN Vote on N.Korean Human Rights"NYT 06 Nov 05:-"South Korea will likely abstain on a UN resolution to condemn North Korea for human rights abuses, government official said, prompting opposition politician to accuse Seoul of harboring double standards... Human rights groups charge North Korea with maintaining networks of prison camps, using public executions to intimidate the masses, and punishing criminals' relatives, held to be guilty by association"; AP"Koreas Hold Reunions for Divided Families"NYT 06 Nov 05:-"On 05 Nov, families from both Koreas held reunions... About 440 South Koreans traveled [that] day to the North's Diamond Mountain resort for the reunions - the 12th since the Koreas agreed to promote peace and reconciliation after an unprecedented summit between their leaders in 2000. So far, more than 10,000 Koreans have been reunited... More families scheduled to begin similar 3-day reunions at mountain resort [08 Nov]. Millions of Korean families remain separated following division of Korean Peninsula in 1945 and 1950-53 Korean War. There is no direct mail, telephone or other communication between ordinary citizens across the border. Family reunions are highly emotional issue in South Korea. Most of those who apply to take part in meetings are in their 70s or older and are eager to see relatives before they die"; AP"Talks on North Korea to Last Three Days" NYT 07 Nov 05:-"Latest round of six-party talks on North Korean nuclear issue will last 3 days, beginning [09 Nov], the official Xinhua News Agency reported, citing FM official. FM spokesman Kong Quan said first phase of fifth round would last 3 days, with a detailed schedule to be decided by the six parties involved, Xinhua said... Talks are expected to focus on implementation of the agreement"; AP"North Korea Promises 'Sincere Efforts'"NYT 08 Nov 05:-"North's envoy [had] promised to make 'sincere efforts' as diplomats prepared to resume talks [,but ] both US and North Korea kept up their tough talk [08 Nov]. Pyongyang condemned President Bush for calling its leader a 'tyrant' [06 Nov], saying it raised doubts about prospect of talks, while new US amb to South Korea accused communist country of human rights abuses... Bush made the remark about Kim in Brazil while praising Japan as US ally in confronting a 'tyrant' in North Korea. He did not mention Kim by name. 'If this is true, what he uttered is blatant violation of spirit of the joint statement of six-party talks which calls for 'respect for sovereignty' and 'peaceful coexistance'', spokesman for North Korea's FM said. 'These remarks... arouse our serious concern about the prospect of implementing joint statement and deprive us of any trust in negotiators of US side to six-party talks who claim to have been mandated by him', unidentified spokesman said, according to North's official Korean Central News Agency. 'We will never pardon whoever dares speak ill of our supreme HQ in any case'. In Seoul, new US Amb Alexander Vershbow said in online chat with South Koreans that he did not agree with Pyongyang's allegation that Washington is responsible for suffering of North Korean people"; Reuters"US Stands Firm on N.Korea as Nuclear Talks Open"NYT 08 Nov 05:-"US stood its ground [09 Nov] as new round of six-party talks on North Korea began, saying reclusive country had to abandon its nuclear weapons program before it could win any energy aid. Washington and Pyongyang are sparring over when North should open up to disarmament inspectors and whether in return it would receive rewards including a new light-water nuclear reactor... 'Our delegation has made very clear that first they have got to disarm, create a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, and once they are back in NPT, with IAEA safeguards, at an appropriate time we will have discussions on subject of light-water reactor', [chief US negotiator Christopher Hill] told reporters ... Officials and experts predicted turning the vague consensus forged in Sep into a charter for action would be painstaking and could be easily derailed. 'Central task of this fifth round of six-party talks... is to formulate the detailed rules, methods and steps to implement the joint statement under the principle of commitment for commitment and action for action', China's chief negotiator Wu Dawei said at opening session... New round unlikely to produce specific agreements, but would instead lay groundwork for more detailed bargaining"; AP"North Korea Nuke Talks Open in Beijing"NYT 08 Nov 05:-"New talks... opened [09 Nov] and chief Chinese envoy called for negotiators to start work on the contentious details of how North will disarm and what it will get in exchange. Tensions between US and North Korea, however, were already building... Chinese delegate Wu called on negotiators to be flexible and pragmatic. Wu called on all sides to 'put forward proposals and ideas so that we will be able to work out an implementation plan that is acceptable to all sides at an early date'... Negotiators have not taken up the most difficult issues: how the North will disarm and how to verify it"; Reuters"U.S. and North Korea Face Off as Nuclear Talks Open"NYT 09 Nov 05:-"'US words do not agree with its deeds at all', said a commentary in Rodong Sinmun, North's communist party paper. 'US is whetting its sword for invading the north behind the scene despite its oft-repeated talk that 'it has no intentions to invade the north',' said commentary... At opening, Japanese chief negotiator Kenichiro Sasae proposed... setting up working groups for track 1 on abandoning nuclear programs and track 2 on economic and energy aid. Track 3 would deal with regional security"; AP"U.S.: North Korea Must Build Confidence"NYT 09 Nov 05:-"US ready to establish relations with North Korea, but regime in Pyongyang must do its part to build confidence, Washington's new amb to Seoul said... Vershbow made the remarks in a meeting with South Korean lawmakers... 'We're prepared to go down the road of normalizing our relation, negotiating permanent peace agreement for the Korean peninsula, open an office in Pyongyang - things that show in a concrete way that we have no hostile intention toward North Korea', Vershbow said... Pyongyang bristles at talk of its human rights problems, saying it is part of US attempt to overthrow the regime... Yet [North's] regime keeps tight control on its hunger-stricken populace with the help of personality cult and fears of US invasion"; AP"China: Little Progress on N. Korea Talks"NYT 09 Nov 05:- "Negotiators trying to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions focused [09 Nov] on the contentious details of how North will disarm and what it will get in exchange, with US and North Korean delegations holding a separate meeting. Host China said little progress had been made by day's end in the new round of six-nation talks... North's envoy, Vice FM Kim Gye Gwan, said Pyongyang would insist on verifying there are no nuclear weapons in South Korea and demand a guarantee from US that it has no plans to attack North Korea, Russia's Interfax news agency reported"; Jim Yardley"Six-Nation Talks on North Korea Resume in China"NYT 09 Nov 05:-"Envoys from six nations began jousting over the messy details of how to translate the broad principles agreed upon in Sep... Three-day session is not equipped to generate a major breakthrough. Envoys from China, South Korea and Japan put forward proposals to provide a road map for talks on the core issues of how and when North Korea would eliminate... and... other countries would reward it... Christopher Hill... complained that North wanted a slow, more deliberate pace in eliminating its nuclear program. He emphasized that denuclearization must be a 'first step'. Questions about timing flared. North Korea restated demand that it receive light-water nuclear reactor... as precondition for ending its nuclear program. Hill said North must dismantle programs and rejoin agreements before US would discuss a possible reactor"; Reuters"U.S. and North Korea Face Off as Nuclear Talks Open"NYT 09 Nov 05:-"North must halt its nuclear weapons program now to show it is taking negotiations on disarmament seriously, US said on second day... Perennial issue remains trust between the two main protagonists... 'Time to stop that reprocessing, the time to stop the reactor, is now', [Hill] said, [and] stressed that goodwill should be reciprocal... South Korea envoy said the six parties... working to come up with a plan to shut down Yongbyon,... about 100km north of capital... US says plant has continued to operate since Sep joint statement... Despite the hurdles, Hill described progress on first day as 'very good and substantive'... Sources said North Korea told plenary session it was ready to abandon programs 'in phases' conditionally , but stuck to its position that it wanted a light-water reactor first"; AP"Six - Party Talks on North Korea Turn Sour"NYT 10 Nov 05:-"Talks on North Korea's nuclear programs turned sour [10 Nov] as Pyongyang demanded that Washington lift sanctions against firms suspected of weapons proliferation and stop accusing North of counterfeiting US money, news reports said. North Korean delegates accused US of undermining Sep agreement... US negotiator... said demands fell beyond scope of six-party talks... 'I don't think we are here now to make a roadmap', Hill said. 'We only have a three-day session, so essentially we are just gathering ideas and having an opportunity to discuss the ideas, but we are not trying to come to any final decisions'"; Reuters"US, N.Korea at Odds as Nuclear Talks Draw to Close"NYT 10 Nov 05:-"No sign of an end of hostility between the two main protagonists... The 3-day session aimed at working out logistics for further rounds of lower-level bargaining on a breakthrough deal agreed in Sep... Still tough questions about how to implement Sep joint statement"; Reuters"N.Korea Talks End in China, to Meet Again"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"Statement from host China saying they planned to meet again ASAP. 'Parties agreed to hold the second session of the fifth round of six-party talks at the earliest possible date... Parties reaffirmed that they would fully implement joint statement in line with the principle - commitment for commitment, action for action'"; Reuters"South Korea Intercepts Two N.Korea Fighter Jets"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"South Korea scrambled six fighter jets [11 Nov] to intercept two North Korean planes that briefly crossed a disputed frontier over Yellow Sea before heading back, South Korean military said. Not immediately clear why aircraft had flown south of disputed Northern Limit Line [NLL - de facto sea border]... It was day before a week of high-level meetings of APEC forum began in southern port city of Pusan... North Korea is so short of aviation fuel that its air force pilots get scarcely any operational or training hours aloft. North has in the past sought to grab the limelight when South Korea hosts an international event... North says [NLL] is invalid and observes a notional frontier farther south... This has led to naval clashes"; Reuters "US Rejects N.Korea Offer of Nuclear Freeze"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"US rejected North Korean offer to freeze its nuclear programs during three days of multiparty talks... Fifth round... ended with little apparent progress toward their goal of ending North Korea's nuclear program. US negotiator Hill described talks as a useful stepping stone, but also underscored difficulties ahead as negotiators seek agreement on when and how North Korea will declare its nuclear programs, open them to international inspection and then permanently dismantle them... 'We don't want to get into a situation where they stop the programs - in short freeze the programs - and then expect us to compensate for a freeze'... In coming weeks, the six countries were likely to form groups of experts to negotiate the 'technical underbrush' of a potential disarmament agreement, Hill said"; AP"Text of China Statement on N. Korea Talks"NYT 11 Nov 05:-full text of brief statement issued; AP"No Sign of Progress As N. Korea Talks End"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"US and North Korea urged each other to make concessions as round of six-nation talks concluded with no sign of progress or a date to meet again... No indication of progress toward... agreeing on details of how to carry out North Korea's pledge to give up its nuclear program in exchange for aid and a security guarantee... Hill repeated Washington's insistence that it won't discuss aid until all the North's programs are permanently dismantled"; Joseph Kahn"North Korea and U.S. Spar, Causing Talks to Stall"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"US and North Korea sparred over financial penalties and whether to negotiate a nuclear freeze or focus on full disarmament, as talks ended on same inconclusive and irresolute note they began with... Meeting failed to resolve even basic procedural issues, like setting up working groups to tackle technical problems pertaining to inspections and other matter. All sides agreed to resume discussion soon, but did not set a date... Session gave indication of long and likely tortuous road to carrying out broad and vaguely worded Sep agreement... Parties all acknowledged that latest talks had produced no results, but that they also appeared to be mostly low-key and businesslike... 'HEU [highly enriched uranium] is going to be a major issue when we get to the declarative stage'. said Hill... He added that North Korea would continue to face... penalties unless it stopped trafficking in illicit arms and drugs"; AP"U.N. Experts to Train N. Korean Lawyers"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"Two UN legal experts are heading to North Korea to conduct a training session for lawyers to help improve their understanding of UN treaties, refugees and stateless people... China is obligated by a treaty with North Korea to send asylum seekers home, but has not done so in cases that become public. Last year, nearly 1,900 North Koreans arrived in South Korea from China and other countries. North Korea is not a party to the main UN conventions protecting refugees and the stateless, but it is a party to a number of human rights conventions"; AP"U.S., North Korea Each Urge Concessions"NYT 11 Nov 05:-"North Korea stood by its demand for aid in exchange for shutting down a plutonium-producing reactor, insisting that it would not act until Washington offers concessions. 'As we have to follow the 'action for action' principle, we will act if action is made', North's envoy [said]. 'We will never move first'... 'They should be stopping their programs immediately', Hill told reporters... The competing demands highlight key dispute in the talks - North Korea's insistence on receiving compensation before it disarms completely, and Washington's refusal to reward Pyongyang until that goal is accomplished... At the talks, Hill repeated Washington's insistence that it would not discuss aid until all North's programs are dismantled permanently"; Reuters "N.Korea Ships Briefly Cross Disputed Border: South"NYT 12 Nov 05:-"North Korean navy vessel and nine fishing boats briefly crossed disputed Yellow Sea border [NLL] before heading back, South Korean military said, two days after North Korean fighter jets flew over frontier. North Korean patrol boat briefly crossed maritime border... to send back the nine boats that had strayed across line, South Korean said in statement"; Economist 12 Nov 05"The North Korea Debate: A Negotiator's Lot"(29):-"Christopher Hill... said he wanted to see 'quick progress' towards scrapping bombs [,but] dealing with North Korea is never easy... Hill had originally been given some negotiating leeway by [US] Secretary of State... Previous round of talks almost collapsed over North Korea's demand for some new light-water reactors [, yet] Hill won approval [of] four deal-making words: provision of reactors could be discussed...only 'at an appropriate time'. Hill has also more freedom to meet bilaterally... He had hoped to accept a North Korean invitation to visit the country between negotiating sessions. But he was told by his bosses that he could not go without some concession from the regime - such as shutting down its plutonium-rich reactor - and North not prepared to do that. Still faint hopes that China's President Hu might have extracted a behind-the-scenes promise last month... to show a bit of flexibility [in Nov] talks. In public, however, North insists that it wants to discuss building new reactors now, with only a nuclear freeze in prospect, and disarmament to come later. [Whole] Bush team thinks that is a non-starter [although it] is split on overall strategy. One group wants to give Hill some room [while] other side... thinks North Korea will welsh on any deal it signs. The hawks hope that current squeeze on North - disrupting its lucrative trade in narcotics, counterfeit dollars and missile technology - will bring a bad regime to a sticky end. But that seems unlikely to happen soon. South is offering ever more generous assistance, and Hill knows that can only weaken the regime's incentive to negotiate seriously. Meanwhile, North carries on making plutonium enough... for between 3 and 9 bombs"; AP"South Korea: North Had Plan to Curb Nukes"NYT 13 Nov 05:-"North Korea proposed a five-step plan to abandon its nuclear weapons programs at the latest round of disarmament talks..., South Korea's top official on relations with communist nation said. Despite the proposal, North Korea has insisted that it will not make any move until US first offers concessions for giving up its nuclear weapons. Washington has refused the demand. Under the plan, North Korea said it would first halt any plans for nuclear tests and agree not to transfer nuclear technology or materials to other nations, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said in Seoul. North would then agree not to produce more weapons, and afterward suspend and later dismantle its nuclear program, subject to verification, Chung said. Finally, North would rejoin NPT and safeguards under IAEA, Chung said. Chung praised the last round of disarmament talks in Beijing as 'meaningful in that North Korea presented its roadmap on nuclear dismantlement'... Before leaving Beijing, however, North Korean Vice FM Kim Gye Gwan told AP that his country would not make the first move... Washington has refused to reward Pyongyang until North's nuclear program is dismantled"; AP"Rice: N. Korea Nuclear Intentions Unclear" NYT 16 Nov 05:-"[US] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says North Korea has not followed through on promises to drop nuclear weapons program, and needs to bring 'a different attitude' to next round of international talks... 'I think jury is out on whether North Koreans... prepared to do what they need to do, which is to get serious', Rice told reporters after meetings with other members of six-way team... 'Round that has just ended did not have kind of engagement from North Koreans on [what] we might have expected'... [Rice] is in South Korea for annual forum of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation [APEC], as were representatives for the other five countries involved in nuclear talks [on Korean Peninsula]"; Reuters "S.Korea Sees North Economic Union by 2020"NYT 16 Nov 05:-"Communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea are likely to have formed at least economic union by 2020, South's unification minister told Reuters. Chung Dong-young also said North Korea would be ready to accept Seoul's offer of free electricity as stop-gap until light-water atomic reactors were built after a deal was reaced in six-party talks... South Korea does not aim for rapid unification, fearful of German-style cost of unexpectedly welding together different systems... When asked about a mooted joint North-South bid for 2020 Summer Olympics, Chung said that was a good idea and there was likely to be much progress between now and then... Chung did not elaborate on what form an economic union between Asia's fourth-largest economy and one of world's poorest countries might take. But he said North appeared headed for economic opening similar to China and Vietnam... Chung said it could take a decade or more to reach a deal and then build the nuclear reactors North wants in return for ditching its nuclear weapons programs"; AP "U.S. Troops in Asia Undergo Transformation"NYT 16 Nov 05:-"North Korea's military power hasn't suddenly changed. It claims to have nukes and its million-man army is ready to roll. China, meanwhile, is engaging as the new Asian military leader, and terrorism is flaring up all over the region. But at US's major Asian outposts, some serious downsizing under way... US position isn't weakening, say officials and analysts; cutbacks will be counterbalanced by improved equipment, organization and cooperation... In its biggest reorganization in two decades, US will shed 12,500 of its 32,500-strong force in Korea over next 3 years, reduce its number of bases by about 75% and hand over major elements of troops' mission to their Korean counterparts, who will 'play larger and larger role', US Defense Secretary said on recent Asia tour. Similar restructuring afoot in Japan, where nearly 50,000 US troops are stationed. US and Japan just agreed to most sweeping changes in deployments there..., plan that... includes withdrawal of about 7,000 of 18,000 Marines on crowded island of Okinawa... An analyst...says aim is to streamline, but not undermine, the alliance... Changes in Korea in line with shifts now taking place within entire Army, moving toward combat teams 'smaller but fully capable and fully lethal packages that can be deployed faster', said [chief of force development and plans for 8th US Army in Korea]... By end of 2005, 8th Army will have shed 8,000 troops. Another 3,500 will leave by 2008, along with 1,000 Air Force... Facing increased demands on its own troops in Iraq/elsewhere, Washington pushing Seoul and Tokyo to assume bigger role in regional security and in their own defense - and both appear willing"; AP"North Korea Expels European Aid Groups"NYT 16 Nov 05:-"North Korea ordered NGO European aid groups to leave the country after EU submitted UN resolution criticizing Pyongyang's human rights record, aid workers said [16 Nov]. Order covers at least 11 of 12 foreign NGOs in isolated North, which has struggled for decade with severe food shortages. Groups affected are running health, sanitation, forestry and other programs... Order comes as WFP also scrambling to preserve its access to North Korea following government request for UN agency to wind up its food aid program 2005... EU submitted UN resolution expressing 'serious concern' about reports of torture by Stalinist dictatorship and its restrictions on religion, travel and other activities. It calls on North, one of world's most secretive societies, to cooperate with UN human rights investigators... Order affects all groups that receive money from EU or one of its 25 member governments... Only one NGO working in North Korea isn't European -- the Canadian branch of Global Action Network, religious charity. Its status wasn't clear... NGO groups provide medical supplies, farm tools, fertilizer and expertise in improving water-treatment and sewage systems"; AP"Bush, in Japan, Suggests That China Expand Freedoms"NYT 16 Nov 05:-[Title seems used in error, although the Korean content is worth summarizing below; it is also title of NYT item by David E.Sanger that fits a Japan/ China text that is summarized under 'Taiwan'] "In a show of unity, President Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun declared that nuclear-armed North Korea 'will not be tolerated' and agreed the problem should be resolved through peaceful diplomacy... Bush and Roh met ahead of a 21-nation [APEC] summit whose members include leaders of five countries... negotiating with North Korea for its nuclear disarmament... 'We have no disagreements at all that this issue must be resolved', Roh said... [He also] said the two leaders talked at length about North Korean nuclear issue and exchanged views about North Korea's attitude and tactics... 'We'll consider the light-water reactor at the appropriate time' Bush said, 'after they have veritably given up their nuclear weapons and/or programs... South Korea has resisted the tough approach advocated by Bush administration for ending the impasse with North Korea, opposing the idea of military action if diplomacy fails. South Korea also cool to idea of taking the standoff to UNSC for possible sanctions"; Reuters"China's Hu Says Supports Eventual Korean Unification"NYT 17 Nov 05:-"Chinese president pledged his support for eventual reunification of the two Koreas in speech to South Korea's parliament [17 Nov] and said China's relations with South were 'entering their best period ever'... Hu said the two countries... should cooperate to foster stability in northeast Asia. 'China supports North-South Korean dialogue to improve ties and build trust... leading to eventual independent reunification', he told National Assembly, drawing strong applause... Also said China would continue to work ceaselessly to solve problem of nuclear weapons in Korean peninsula"; David E.Sanger"U.S. and Seoul Share a Goal but Not a Strategy on North Korea"NYT 17 Nov 05:-"President Bush and President Roh... tried to reconcile their differing approaches to dealing with North, with Roh repeating his vow that nuclear armed North would 'not be tolerated', even while defending his efforts to take a softer approach toward country... He said 'right moment to consider' helping North build a light-water nuclear reactor was after it gave up all of its weapons programs... Roh was silent on issue... Both men hailed the strength of their alliance... but they steered clear of the differences in tactics that aides said formed the subtext of their daylong conversation... Roh's government had been engaged in debate in Parliament about whether to double its aid to North Korea next year, pouring nearly $2.5b into its bankrupt neighbour... Bush administration is heading in exactly the opposite direction,... working behind the scenes to cut off as many of North Korea's sources of revenue as it can get its hands on... In joint declaration, leaders repeated phrase that 'nuclear-armed North Korea will not be tolerated'... The tactics both countries use to get North to give up those weapons still differ"; AP"Bush Firm Against N.Korea Nuclear Program"NYT 17 Nov 05:-"Bush took hardline stance against North, saying US won't help communist nation build a civilian nuclear reactor to produce electricity until it dismantles its nuclear weapons programs... Roh put communist regime on notice that it would not be allowed to keep its nuclear weapons programs... US officials once rejected [light-water reactor] idea outright and argued North could not be trusted with any nuclear program, but now have left the door open as long as Pyongyang isn't given a reactor as an incentive but only as a reward after it has eliminated nuclear weapons programs... There was no mention of the differences between US and South Korea on how to deal with Pyongyang... South Korea, concerned that it might anger the communist regime in North and complicate the nuclear talks, said [17 Nov] it would abstain from a vote this week to adopt a UN resolution calling for North Korea to improve its human rights record"; Reuters"UN Slams North Korean Rights Abuses"NYT 17 Nov 05:-"UN General Assembly [UNGA] committee expressed 'serious concern' [17 Nov] over reports of human rights violations in North Korea, including torture, public executions and severe restrictions on freedoms of thought and religion. UNGA's social and humanitarian committee approved a resolution on North Korea put forward by European Union by vote of 84-22 with 62 abstentions. All 191 UN members have a seat on panel, and adoption is tantamount to approval by full UNGA... Of the parties involved in [six-party negotiations in Beijing], US and Japan voted for the rights resolution, Russia, China and North Korea voted against it, and South Korea abstained"; AP"U.N. Panel Concerned About N. Korean Abuse"NYT 17 Nov 05:-"Resolution sparked heated debate in UNGA committee that deals with social and humanitarian issues, partly because it was first time that a resolution on human rights in North Korea was introduced in UNGA... Resolution, which has 40 co-sponsors, expresses 'serious concern' about the 'continuing reports of systemic, widespread and grave violation of human rights' in North Korea, including torture, public executions, imposing the death penalty for political reasons and extensive use of forced labor... It urges North to ensure unimpeded access to all parts of country for humanitarian organizatios, NGOs, and UN agencies, especially WFP... Pyongyang's opposition was backed by 21 other countries including Russia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. Many objected to UNGA targeting individual countries with resolutions about human rights violations. That is key issue in the ongoing efforts to revamp UN human rights machinery"; AP"Ted Turner Wants Korean DMZ Made Into Park"NYT 18 Nov 05:-"Media mogul Ted Turner wants to turn Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas into a peace park and UN-protected World Heritage Site to honor the thousands of young men who died during Korean War. Turner... urged both sides to sign a peace treaty as a first step. North and South Korea technically remain at war since 1950-53 conflict ended in cease-fire instead of peace treaty. CNN founder... said DMZ, which is 2.5 miles wide and 155 miles long, should also be declared World Heritage Site, which would ensure that dozens of species unique to area are preserved along with its history... Turner said DMZ should be a monument to both North and South Korea and China and US, countries that lost thousands of young men fighting in [Korean peninsula]"; Reuters"APEC Wants Bigger Push on N.Korea Nuclear Talks"NYT 19 Nov 05:-"Pacific Rim leaders want more progress in talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, and an eventual deal could boost region's economy, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said [19 Nov]... Roh said [forum leaders] had welcomed progress so far, including Sep joint statement... The 21 APEC leaders... did not refer to North Korea or the talks in their written declaration... But it did mention the need to 'eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery'... Non-APEC member North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il, was not at summit"; Reuters"US Wants China to Clean Up N.Korea Nuclear 'Mess'"NYT 19 Nov 05:-"Top US negotiator to six-country talks on North Korea's nuclear programs urged China [19 Nov] to 'take a little more responsibility for cleaning up the mess'... Speaking on sidelines of APEC forum, Christopher Hill emphasized need for multilateral talks... Hill said he felt China's past failure to prevent North Korea - a long-time ally - from gaining nuclear weapons meant it should work a little harder now to resolve the problem... Hill also said he was extremely concerned about North Korea's human rights record, raising an issue that has angered Pyongyang in the past"; AP"N. Korean Man Tells Prison Horror Story"NYT 22 Nov 05:-"Former North Korean political prisoner offered grim details of life in a communist regime prison camp, saying he saw many inmates die from overwork and starvation. Ex-inmate... said a former defector was beaten to death for having contacted Christian representatives in China. [He] told a news conference that prisoners received a starvation ration of 21 ounces of food a day... He gave reporters a list of inmates including 34 North Koreans who had tried to defect and 82 others including former senior bureaucrats, security officials and a diplomat... Between 150,000 and 200,000 people are believed to be held in [North Korean] prison camps for political reasons, US State Department said in a report"; AP"U.S., Partners End N. Korea Nuke Project"NYT 22 Nov 05:-"US and its partners [on 22 Nov] dealt the death blow to a project to build two light-water atomic reactors for North Korea to entice it into dismantling its nuclear weapons program, officials said. Decade-old light-water reactor project had been mothballed for the last two years, kept barely alive in case North Korea showed signs of resuming IAEA inspections and liquidating its ambitious self-proclaimed nuclear weapons program. The New York-based Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) did not issue any formal statement at the end of a two-day session of executive board meetings. But US delegate... said after the meeting that the board members - US, South Korea, Japan and EU - had agreed on 'termination' of the light-water reactor project... Under the agreement that formed the KEDO project, North Korea was to abandon nuclear weapons development and allow access by IAEA inspectors, in exchange for 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil annually from US to meet its energy shortage until it got two light-water atomic power plants, built and paid for primarily by South Korea and Japan, with some EU funding. The program was frozen in 2002 after US claimed North Korea had embarked on a second, secret weapons-development program. Evidence to back the claim has never been publicly disclosed"; Reuters"N.Korea Says CNN Execution Image Fabricated"NYT 26 Nov 05:-"North Korea called a recent CNN program depicting a public execution in the communist state a 'sheer fabrication' and dismissed it as a rating ploy by US-based broadcaster. North takes any criticism of its internal affairs sensitively and part of US conspiracy to topple the government... 'The video tape is full of sheer lies negating the popular and class nature and the democratic principle of [North's] laws and tarnishing its image from A to Z', KCNA news agency said in a commentary"; AP"North Korea Decries CNN Documentary"NYT 26 Nov 05:-"Earlier this month, CNN aired a documentary with footage defectors claimed to have smuggled out of North, including public execution of person who had helped someone defect to China. Network had said North Korea declined to respond to a request for comment... As part of nuclear talks seeking to convince North to disarm, Washington has repeatedly assured Pyongyang it recognizes its sovereignty. In Sep [agreement], US also offered security guarantees and normalization of relations if North abandons its nuclear programs. North alleged that recent report showed Washington was hiding its true intentions"; Reuters"Japan, N.Korea Talks May Resume 'Soon' - - Report"NYT 28 Nov 05:-"Japan and North Korea likely to meet soon for talks on long-standing disputes that have prevented Asian neighbours from establishing diplomatic ties, Japanese media said... Talks early this month ended without conclusive agreement on key issues... Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese Vice FM as saying talks could take place before resumption of six-party talks... Chinese Vice FM told Japanese official that he expected next round of six-way talks to take place in Jan, Kyodo reported"; AP"N.Korea Seeks Compensation on Nuke Project"NYT 28 Nov 05:-"North Korea demanded compensation from US over scuttled project to build two nuclear reactors in nation under 1994 agreement. Last week...terminated the project... 'Now that construction of (light-water reactors) came to final stop, (North) compelled to blame US for having overturned (agreed framework), and demand it compensate for political and economic losses it has caused',.. North Korean FM spokesman said via KCNA. Spokesman claimed move to shutter reactor project proved North was 'quite just' in demanding simultaneous actions to build mutual confidence with US in exchange for disarmament"; Reuters"N.Korea Demands US Compensation for Reactor Project"NYT 28 Nov 05:-"US should give North 'political and economic' compensation after collapse of an international project to provide it with nuclear reactors, spokesman for Pyongyang's FM said... South Korea, which was part of KEDO, has already spent $1.1b on the reactor project. The relatively proliferation-resistant light-water reactors were to be of a US design, while South Korea and Japan were to have paid for them"; Reuters"New US Envoy to Seoul Not Encouraged by N.Korea Tactics"NYT 30 Nov 05:-"New US Amb to South Korea [Alexander Vershbow] not encouraged by way North Korea approaching agreement to dismantle its nuclear programs... 'Remains to be seen whether North truly prepared to eliminate its nuclear programs, and to do so in a prompt and verifiable manner', [amb] said in speech. 'North Koreans' tactics not especially encouraging'. Vershbow said if North was ready to move forward on ending its nuclear ambitions, US ready to respond by looking at items such as striking peace treaty to replace armistice that ended 1950-53 Korean War"; Reuters"US Open to Rescheduling Disputed N.Korea Briefing"NYT 01 Dec 05:-"US willing to reschedule a briefing on the legal basis for its crackdown on North Korea's suspected illicit fund-raising activities that was canceled by Pyongyang, State Department said. 'Offer still stands. And it would appear that North Korean government isn't interested in accepting this offer for such a briefing', spokesman said. A planned 09-11 Dec meeting between North Korea and US Treasury officials was canceled after what US officials said were differences over the nature of the discussions... Hill had publicly offered to brief North Korean officials on actions taken under...Patriot Act, which covers preventing counterfeiting... US officials said North portrayed proposed briefing as aimed at settling the issue of 'financial sanctions' against Pyongyang, whereas Washington intended it only as information session by low-level Treasury experts. [Spokesman] said US had every right to act to curb illegal behaviour and 'never offered to engage in negotiations with North Korea on this matter'"; AP"N. Korea Sets Nuclear - Program Conditions"NYT 02 Dec 05:-"North Korea would consider dismantling its nuclear weapons program if its relations with US, Japan and South Korea improved, China's envoy to Seoul said [02 Dec]. Amb. said 'three keys' are needed for North to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, the most important of which is establishment of mutual trust between US and North Korea. The other two priorities are normalizing relations with Japan and improving relations with South Korea, he said"; Reuters"N.Korea Repeats Demand for Financial Talks with US"NYT 02 Dec 05:-"North Korea repeated demand for high-level talks with US on sanctions against its financial assets despite US refusal to negotiate on what it said was law enforcement issue. Latest diplomatic spat could affect six-country talks on North's nuclear weapons programs"; AP"U.S. Puts Off N.Korean Food Donation"NYT 03 Dec 05:-"US has put off buying 25,000 tons of food aid promised to North Korea this month, insisting on assurances the aid will be delivered by World Food Program so it will not be diverted to the military or ruling party... Washington, one of North's biggest food donors, believes impoverished nation still needs food aid, [but] wants to ensure donations distributed by WFP... WFP has been negotiating with Pyongyang to keep its feeding program in place, saying a rapid shutdown will leave thousands hungry. Agency's director is to visit North this month in a last-ditch attempt to reach a compromise"; Reuters"N.Korea Says Must Meet US Envoy Before More Talks"NYT 03 Dec 05:-"North Korea has told US that it will not take part in any more six-party talks until its chief negotiator can have a meeting with US envoy Christopher Hill, Japanese newspaper said... But a planned 9-11 Dec meeting between North Korean and US Treasury officials was canceled after what US officials said were differences over the nature of discussions... Hill said issue was one of law enforcement and stood outside nuclear talks framework... But North Korean FM spokesman said [03 Dec] that US offer to brief North Korean officials instead of sitting down for talks amounted to 'backtracking from the agreement on holding talks to find a solution to the issue'"; Agence France-Presse"U.S. Delaying Food Donation to North Korea"NYT 03 Dec 05:-"US is delaying purchase of 25,000 tons of food it has promised to give North Korea in response to North's announcement that it wants UN aid efforts to switch over from food aid to development assiatance. State Department... concerned that food not delivered through... WFP would be diverted"; AP"S. Korea Seeks Direct U.S. - N. Korea Talks"NYT 05 Dec 05:-"South Korea's top official responsible for relations with North Korea urged US [05 Dec] to hold direct talks with North to resolve concerns over its missile development, human rights abuses and other non-nuclear issues, report said... The remarks by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young reflected concerns that a deepening row between Washington and North Korea over US sanctions against communist state could undermine six-nation talks on ending North's nuclear programs. Non-nuclear complaints by US against North 'should be solved by bilateral talks between the two parties', Chung told a forum. Chung listed North's missiles, biochemical weapons and human rights abuses, as well as alleged involvement in drug trafficking and counterfeiting of money, as among the major non-nuclear issues. US has so far showed no willingness to separate the nuclear and non-nuclear issues, discussing both at six-nation talks. It has also rejected North's demand for one-on-one negotiations... North Korea [05 Dec] blasted US over human rights, echoing recent statements"; Reuters"North, South Korea Make Plans for Unified Team"NYT 06 Dec 05:- "North and South Korea will try to make a symbolic dream of unification a reality when they meet [07 Dec] to discuss forming a joint team for 2008 Olympics in Beijing and for 2006 Asian Games in Doha. Still technically at war, the two Koreas first considered competing as a joint team for 1964 Tokyo Olympics, but years of acrimony and military tensions meant it remained just an idea. [A]thletes and coaches say the barriers blocking the formation of a unified team may be too high to clear... Talks to be held in North Korean border city of Kaesong with the utmost caution... At 2004 Olympics in Athens, South Korea won 30 medals, including nine golds, while North Korea tallied five with no golds... South Korea was ninth overall while North Korea placed 58th... Koreas' combined metal tally... would have been good for seventh overall, between Germany and France. AP"U.S., Japan Examines Site for Radar System"NYT 06 Dec 05:-"[Bilateral agreement reached in Oct] provided for deployment of a missile defense system in island nation. US and Japan have long been working on a joint defense system. Since last year, US Navy has been patrolling Sea of Japan, on lookout for missiles from North Korea. North Korea shocked Tokyo and other nations when it test-fired a missile over northern Japan in 1998. Analysts say North Korea is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Alaska, Hawaii or perhaps western coast of US"; Reuters"N.Korea Says US Finance Row Blocking Nuclear Talks"NYT 06 Dec 05:-"US crackdown on North Korea's financial assets makes it impossible to resume multilateral talks on dismantling state's nuclear weapons programs, commentary in Pyongyang's official media said [06 Dec]. It was first time North has openly linked a possible halt in six-party nuclear talks to US moves against its finances, South Korean officials said. Washington has offered to brief North Korean officials on legal reason for its clamping down on firms US suspects of involvement in counterfeiting, money laundering and the drugs trade. It says these have helped finance Pyongyang's nuclear programs. North Korea's communist party newspaper Rodong Sinmun called US measures 'sanctions' and demanded they be lifted, North's official KCNA news agency reported... China, the North's main benefactor, appealed for calm... Chief US negotiator to nuclear talks... has offered to brief North Korean officials on the matter [but] said US actions... ultimately linked to law enforcement and were not part of six-party talks. South Korean officials have also said this week the financial issue was separate from the six-party talks"; Reuters"Meeting on Nuclear Talks Possible in December"NYT 06 Dec 05:-"US has proposed that informal talks by chief delegates to multilateral discussions... be held 19 Dec in Chaju, South Korea, Kyodo news agency said. North Korea has said US crackdown on Pyongyang's financial assets had made it impossible to resume six-party talks... Japanese spokesman said, however, that no formal proposal had been made. South Korea had offered to host an informal gathering on Cheju...in Sep... No one has committed to the talks and no date has been set"; Reuters"No End to Sanctions on 'Criminal' N.Korea: US Envoy"NYT 07 Dec 05:-"North Korea is 'a criminal regime' engaged in sale of weapons and illicit narcotics, and Washington will not lift sanctions against it as long as those activities continue, US envoy to Seoul said... 'This is a criminal regime', US Amb to South Korea told a forum of journalists. 'And we can't somehow remove our sanctions as a political gesture'... South Korean FM said Seoul was working to resume talks in mid-Jan and urged North and US to resolve dispute over financial sanctions bilaterally"; AP"U.S. Calls North Korea 'Criminal Regime'"NYT 07 Dec 05:-"US refused to withdraw financial sanctions... US Amb to South Korea [said] 'This is a criminal regime and we can't somehow remove our sanctions as a political gesture'... Officials in South... have in recent years avoided strongly worded criticisms of North. US imposed sanctions targeting eight North Korean companies it said acted as fronts for proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. North Korea vehemently denies the allegations"; Reuters"S.Korea Perpetuates N.Korea Rights Abuse: Experts"NYT 08 Dec 05:-"Inaction by South Korea on human rights violations in North Korea not only perpetuates suffering there but also encourages misguided and dangerous beliefs about communist state, experts and defectors said [08 Dec]. Hundreds of human rights advocates and refugees who fled the North are meeting in Seoul for two days to urge action by South Korean government and international community to improve human rights conditions in North. South Korea's government argues that does work to improve human rights but prefers not to make high-profile topic for fear of aggravating Pyongyang. 'North Korean dictatorial regime has left no tactic untried in trying to paralyse human rights in North', said Hwang Jang-yop, a former North Korean communist party ideology chief and highest-ranking official to defect to South... He criticized South Koreans who blindly commit to engaging the North...'It's time to take dramatic actions to save human rights in North' he said... North brands any criticism of its human rights record as part of US conspiracy to topple government"; AP"Anti - N. Korea Activists Begin Conference"NYT 08 Dec 05:-"International activists kicked off a conference on human rights abuses in North Korea by calling for overthrow of Kim Jong Il's regime and accusing Pyongyang of enslaving its people... Conference organized by South Korean human rights groups and Freedom House, a pro-democracy organization partly funded by US government... South Korean government has remained largely silent on the three-day conference, fearing it could hurt North-South reconciliation efforts... Seoul's stance drew criticism at the conference... 'Government will try to help North Korean government improve its human rights situation by itself', according to Unification Ministry"; Reuters"US Envoy on N.Korean Rights Paints Bleak Picture"NYT 09 Dec 05:-"US special envoy for human rights in North Korea called the state 'a hidden world of hopelessness and terror'' [09 Dec] and said Pyongyang's treatment of its citizens was a global concern. Jay Lefkowitz... said only way for Pyongyang to claim legitimacy was for it to ensure human rights for its people... 'Contrast could not be more stark. While South Korea has grown fully into proud democracy with rule of law, North Korea is deeply repressive nation', Lefkowitz said... Human rights groups describe North Korea as one of world's worst abusers, with prison camps, guilt be association and public executions meant to intimidate its citizens... North Korea...labeled human rights conference a 'charade'... Some at conference pointed out conspicious absence of any speeches by officials from South Korean... administration"; AP"Envoy Wants Rights Pressure on N. Korea"NYT 09 Dec 05:-"Jay Lefkowitz, speaking at US-sponsored international conference,.. said a campaign to improve human rights in North Korea... would boost regional stability, not shake it... Lefkowitz's remarks appeared directed at South Korea... [He] has been charged with raising the human rights issue and providing assistance to refugees fleeing the North... Calling on China to stop sending North Koreans back to their homeland, Leifkowitz said Beijing should also allow UN refugee agency access to the defectors"; Reuters"IAEA's ElBaradei Says N.Korea to Invite Him Back"NYT 09 Dec 05:-"Head of UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, said [09 Dec] that North Korea preparing to invite him to visit communist country, three years after it threw out agency's inspectors. North Korea has barred IAEA from inspecting its sites since 31 Dec 02, after it announced plans to restart a mothballed nuclear reactor and said it would continue to develop its nuclear weapons program"; Norimitsu Onishi"North Korea: U.S. Envoy Presses Rights"NYT 10 Dec 05:-"US special envoy for human rights in North Korea, Jay Lefkowitz, called for international cooperation to press North Korea to improve human rights for its citizens...He said respect for rights in North Korea would increase regional stability"; AP"N.Korea Decries U.S. Envoy's Criticism"NYT 10 Dec 05:-"North Korea has denounced recent criticism of communist regime by a senior US diplomat as a 'declaration of a war' and threatened to retaliate, North Korean media reported [10 Dec]... US Ambassador [to South Korea,] Alexander Vershbow's, comments are 'a sort of provocative declaration of a war... and (North Korea) will mercilessly retaliate against it', spokesman for North's committee on peaceful reunification of the peninsula told KCNA"; Reuters"N.Korea Says US Envoy Remark Damages Nuclear Talks"NYT 10 Dec 05:-"North Korea strongly criticized US envoy to Seoul for describing communist state as a 'criminal regime', saying his remark was a declaration of war that had killed the spirit of nuclear arms talks... 'What he uttered is an intolerable provocation and insult to the political system in [North] and its dignity, and a very serious development that fundamentally overturned the spirit of the joint statement adopted at... six-party talks', spokesman for the committee said... 'Successive US ambassadors in Seoul have never made such virulent outcries as those let loose by new US ambassador'"; Walter Gibbs"Accepting Nobel, ElBaradei Urges a Rethinking of Nuclear Strategy"NYT 10 Dec05:-"World should stop treating nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea as isolated cases and instead deal with them in a common effort to eliminate poverty, organized crime and armed conflict, director-general of [IAEA] UN's nuclear monitoring agency said [10 Dec] in accepting 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. Mohamed ElBaradei said 'good start' would be for US and other nuclear powers to cut nuclear weapon stockpiles sharply and redirect spending toward international development. 'More than 15 years after end of cold war, incomprehensible to many that major nuclear weapon states operate with their arsenals on hair-trigger alert', he said. Despite some disarmament, he continued, existence of 27,000 nuclear warheads in various hands around the world still hold prospect of 'devastation of entire nations in a matter of minutes'. Feelings of insecurity and humiliation... are behind the spread of bomb-development programs at national level... No less dangerous, he added, are the presumed efforts of extremist groups to acquire nuclear materials. With goods, ideas and people moving more freely than ever, containment of nuclear technology must be part of a broad global effort, he said. 'We cannot respond to these threats by building more walls, developing bigger weapons or dispatching more troops', he said. 'These threats require primarily multinational cooperation'. ElBaradei said manufacture and sale of nuclear fuel for power generation, which can also be enriched to make bombs, should be placed under multilateral control, with IAEA operating as a 'reserve fuel bank' for accredited nations"; AP"N. Korea Slams U.S. Envoy Over Comments"NYT 10 Dec 05:-"North Korea denounced new US Amb to South Korea for calling communist nation a 'criminal regime', saying [10 Dec] his remark was tantamount to a declaration of war... State Department spokeswoman said US was trying to verify North Korean comments and had no immediate response... Calling such US allegations 'sheer lies' North's FM said [10 Dec] that 'prospect of six-party talks' resumption and progress will entirely depend on US attitude'. Spokesman accused Washington of making 'scenarios to deter (North Korea) from going to six-party talks and lead them to a final collapse', according to KCNA"; Reuters"N.Korean Leader Kim Bans Talk of Successor - Agency"NYT 11 Dec 05:-"North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il has forbidden internal talk about his naming a successor to world's only communist dynasty, saying speculation hurts his rule, news agency reported... Kim reportedly issued a special order banning North Koreans from talking about his successor, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported... Kim told [Workers' Party] division members to crack down on any talk about his family and punish offenders even with a life sentence"; Reuters"Nuclear Differences Overshadow Inter - Korean Talks"NYT 12 Dec 05:-"North and South Korea hold ministerial talks this week on improving cooperation, but a row in separate mulitnational discussions on ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs could overshadow meeting... Past meetings produced agreements covering economic assistance/mining/ humanitarian cooperation. This round... would focus on finishing a rail link and increasing confidence-building measures between the two armies, South Korea's unification minister has said. [He] told reporters he would also try to bring up nuclear crisis as well as issue of South Korean prisoners of war and abductees still in the North"; James Brooke"Talks Stalled, U.S. Envoy Matches Insults of North Korea" NYT 14 Dec 05:-"North Korea's state news agency recently proposed a novel punishment for new US Amb [in Seoul], Alexander Vershbow: South Koreans should force him to stand in midst of Seoul's notorious downtown traffic, and then 'punish him in name of the nation and immediately expel him from their land'. But amb... unruffled by North's verbal fusillade, which included charge Bush administration 'is made up of political imbeciles and master hands at faking up lies'. Nuclear disarmament talks with North will continue, US envoy said. But lately, both sides seem to be playing at brinkmanship... Amb Vershbow has seemingly gone out of his way to talk tough to North Koreans [and their 'criminal regime']"; AP"South Korea Urges North to Return to Talks"NYT 14 Dec 05:-"South Korea urged North [14 Dec] to return to six-nation talks on communist nation's nuclear weapons program ASAP... Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, heading South Korean delegation to [regular] Cabinet-level talks, 'urged early resumption of six-party talks'... 'North Korean delegation... did not respond directly to South Korean comments but 'listened seriously"... On 14 Dec South Koreans demanded North resolve issue of South Korean abductees and prisoners. North Koreans called for an end to joint military exercises between South Korea and US"; Reuters"N.Korea Denies Forging Cash, Blames US for Tension"NYT 14 Dec 05:-"North Korea denied accusations it issued fake currency, and said... Washington's financial crackdown on Pyongyang firms was an attempt to divert attention from domestic problems rather than tackle forgery... 'Such illegal activities unimaginable', said official KCNA. '[North] has never issued counterfeit notes nor had ever been engaged on any illegal dealings'... News agency said Washington resorting to lies and fabrications... because US faced criticism for war in Iraq and its aftermath, as well as unsubstantiated reports of torture at secret prisons... 'US is, however, sadly mistaken', KCNA said. 'No matter how often US political imbeciles may orchestrate farces of every form at their back parlour, will only reveal moral vulgarity of Bush group and further deteriorate the stand-off over the nuclear issue"; AP"N. Korea Blames U.S. for Stalled Nuke Talks"NYT 15 Dec 05:-"North Korea is blaming US for holding up the resumption of international negotiations on Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament, South Korean spokesman said at second day of high-level talks between the two Koreas. South Korea has been trying to lure North back to nuclear talks but little progress has been reported"; Reuters"WFP to Stop Feeding North Koreans This Month"NYT 15 Dec 05:-"World Food Program will stop feeding North Koreans by end of month and has yet to reach agreement that will allow it to stay on in impoverished and isolated country, agency said [15 Dec]. UN agency has been in North Korea since a famine in mid-1990s that killed as many as 2.5m. It has been negotiating terms to stay on since North announced in Sep it wanted emergency food aid shifted to development assistance. 'Government has concluded it no longer needs emergency humanitarian assistance', WFP... told news conference... after two days of talks in Pyongyang... 'It's clear they want us to stay, and we want to stay, but we have to be able to stay in a context that will give us a chance to be successful'... WFP negotiating with North over the number of staff it can keep in country and about its monitoring... North Korea no longer facing famine, but... about 37% of its children chronically malnourished, compared to more than 60% in 1998. WFP's program aimed to feed 6.5m North Koreans but as it winds down in absence of any clear mandate to continue, it is now feeding just 600,000"; AP"WFP, N. Korea Fail to Agree on Food Aid"NYT 15 Dec 05:-"WFP failed to reach agreement with North Korea in talks on continuing food assistance programs and has stopped supplying aid to most of 6.4m it was feeding this year, WFP officials said... North for agency to wind down food programs by end of this month and switch to development aid. Aid workers say that timetable is too short and could leave many people hungry... More discussions with North over next several weeks... WFP has shut down most of its operations... Aid officials say North Korea asked switch to development aid because it believes can feed its people with its own harvests and help from China/South Korea. WFP spent about $1.7b over past decade on aid to North... Two sides also failed to agree on conditions for WFP to monitor food distribution... Until recently, WFP employees were making 350 to 500 trips per month to monitor distributions... Transition was much faster than WFP has managed in other countries, where it sometimes starts plans for years before shutting down such a large operation"; AP"Divided Koreas Seek Quick Nuke Agreement"NYT 16 Dec 05:-"North Korea [16 Dec] signaled its willingness to quickly implement an agreement to abandon its nuclear programs, but refused to directly commit to more six-nation nuclear negotiations, during high-level talks with South Korea... South failed to secure a firm commitment from North to rejoin six-nation talks... Two Koreas also agreed to increase economic cooperation and conduct more reunions of Koreans divided by their heavily fortified border. In addition, they pledged to hold military talks next year to prevent conflicts along the border... South has declined to let its citizens visit [politically sensitive] places [in North Korea] due to concerns that they could be seen as glorifying North's regime and cult of personality... Subject was left out of the final statement"; Norimitsu Onishi"Helping North Korean Defect Is Easy Part, Missionaries Find"NYT 19 Dec 05:-"As the two Koreas have moved closer in recent years, the complicated relationship between defector and missionary has come to symbolize, perhaps more than anything else, the yawning gap of a half-century of division. While the North remains Communist, the South has grown into the foothold for Christianity in Northeast Asia. With a nearly 30% Christian population, the South has the world's second largest missionary movement, after the US, with 14,000 people abroad. An estimated 1,500 are deployed in China, evangelizing secretly and illegally among Chinese and among North Koreans living in China - a population that various estimates say ranges from 10,000 to as many as 300,000. South Korean missionaries shelter North Koreans and have brought thousands to the South; others train them to return home to proselytize, as well as smuggle Bibles into the North. For the South's missionaries, converting people from the North, where Christianity spread before the peninsula's division, dovetails with their dream of a reunified peninsula... To the North Korean defectors, some South Korean missionaries seem more concerned about brokering deals to smuggle them out of China and using them in Seoul as publicity tools against North Korea. To South Korean missionaries, who have risked their lives to evangelize China, some North Korean defectors appear ungrateful. Although no precise figures exist, only a fifth to a third of North Korean defectors ultimately convert to Christianity, according to most South Korean missionaries interviewed"; AP"N. Korea Aims to Boost Nuclear Program"NYT 19 Dec 05:-"North Korea said [19 Dec] it plans to boost its nuclear weapons program because of hostile US policies toward regime, and it called Washington's criticism of its human rights record hypocritical. [It] said it would bolster its nuclear power industry to meet energy demands after US scrapped a project to provide it with power-generating reactors - the latest tirade to cast fresh doubt on efforts to resume six-nation talks... North 'will increase (its) self-reliant national defense capacity, including nuclear deterrent, pursuant to Songun (military-first) policy, to cope with US escalated policy to isolate and stifle it with nuclear issue and 'human rights issue' as pretexts', Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by official KCNA... 'US is a typical criminal state which politicizes human rights issue and applies selectivity/double standards concerning issue', North said [19 Dec]"; Reuters"N.Korea Says to Build Light - Water Nuclear Reactors" NYT 20 Dec 05:-"North plans to build light-water atomic reactors and develop two other reactors that can produce large amounts of fissile material to boost its nuclear deterrent, official media said [20 Dec]... Diplomats said latest comment from North's KCNA could complicate an already difficult negotiating process further. Pyongyang had not said before it planned to build relatively proliferation-resistant light-water reactors (LWRs), but had threatened to resume work on two graphite-moderated reactors (GMRs), which can produce large amounts of material for atomic bombs, a South Korean FM official said... US State Department said any such construction would break commitments North made at talks in Sep. [KEDO countries] said project was shut down because North had cheated on original 1994 deal by having secret uranium enrichment plan... KCNA said North would 'start developing and building LWRs of Korean style in reliance upon its indigenous technology and potential when an appropriate time comes to put further spurs to its peaceful nuclear activities'. It did not elaborate. Nuclear experts say North Korea... does not have technology or money to build light-water reactors any time soon... It usually takes 9 years or more to build a light-water reactor, which costs between $2b and $3b. [One expert] said it would take years for North Korea just to complete the graphite-moderated reactors"; AP"Japan, N. Korea to Hold Talks on Abductions"NYT 20 Dec 05:-"Japan and North Korea will hold talks over the weekend on North's abductions of Japanese citizens and other outstanding bilateral issues, Japanese FM said. [They] will discuss kidnappings, North's nuclear weapons and missile programs as well as issues concerning the past, according to statement"; Reuters"North Korea Reactor Plan May Hurt Disarmament Talks: Seoul" NYT 21 Dec 05:-"North Korea's plan to build light-water atomic reactors and develop other reactors capable of producing fissile material could harm nuclear disarmament deal signed by Pyongyang, South Korea's FM said [21 Dec]. 'It runs counter to spirit of agreement reached in Sep for North to boost peaceful nuclear activity', Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon told reporters"; Reuters"Japan to Keep Pressing N.Korea on Abduction Issue"NYT 26 Dec 05:-"Japan will not normalize ties with North Korea unless a feud over Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals is resolved, government's top spokesman said... At weekend discussions in Beijing, the two sides agreed to resume talks to establish diplomatic ties while handling two other issues - the abduction issue and Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs - through separate parallel talks... Japan's stance on abuction issue was unchanged... 'Our basic, unwavering principle is we will not normalize ties (with North Korea) unless abduction issue resolved', [Chief Cabinet Secretary] told news conference... Besides being attracted to talks on possible economic aid, North Korea may also be hoping that Japan would act as a sort of intermediary with US, said... professor... in Tokyo"; Reuters"N.Korea's Priority Is Ties with US - S.Korea"NYT 27 Dec 05:-"North Korea more interested in establishing diplomatic ties with US than in receiving economic aid, top South Korean official said... 'If North normalizes relations with US, it will help dismantle the last remaining Cold War structure and create a peace regime on Korean peninsula', Chung[, Unification Minister,] said... US has clamped down on several North Korean companies.,. saying illicit businesses had helped fund Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs... Chung was in Washington... to discuss his recent meeting with North Korean officials and to receive US briefings on suspected illegal activity by North Korea. Washington is seeking to win converts in Seoul while assuring South Korea that financial crackdown is best left to treasury/law enforcement officials, and should not be a part of talks on ending Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons... 'With regard to human rights conditions in North Korea, South Korea has made all efforts to improve the situation, except open criticism', Chung said... South is trying to persuade neighbour to hold a dialogue on its human rights situation with the international community"; Reuters"New S.Korean Pointman for North May Change Dynamics"NYT 28 Dec 05:-"The pending resignation of South Korea's pointman for the North may hurt inter-Korean relations, but could ease tension in the multinational process to end North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons, analysts said. South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, one of few South Korean officials to hold direct talks with North leader Kim Jong-il, plans to resign within days, a ministry official said. Chung will leave cabinet to focus on a run for the presidency in 2007 elections...Under Chung, ties between the two Koreas have warmed, with the two signing agreements on issues ranging from humanitarian aid/joint mining projects to tearing down propaganda signs along their heavily fortified border. Chung's critics say he has made statements that have hurt the six-party negotiations... by bringing up points that could be seen as exposing rifts between Washington and Seoul... Analysts said it remained to be seen how Chung's replacement would approach inter-Korean talks, and nuclear talks... One of Chung's biggest achievements... was going to Pyongyang for face-to-face talks with Kim Jong-il, which helped pave the way for the country's return to the six-party talks after a year of boycott"; Reuters"US Laments N.Korean Decision to Halt Food Aid"NYT 29 Dec 05:-"US has food aid earmarked for North Korea, but Pyongyang's decision to stop allowing UN distribution of food has forced Washington to suspend its assistance, US spokesman said [29 Dec]... The decision forced WFP.,. through which US aid to North Korea was channeled, to wind down a program that at its peak was feeding 6.5m North Koreans. WFP says... 37% of North Korean children chronically malnourished... 'Unfortunately, aid has been suspended because North Korea said [WFP] are not going to distribute food any more', [spokesman] told reporters. He said US policy required monitoring of food distribution... WFP has been in North Korea since a famine in mid-90s killed as many as 2.5m people in a population of about 23m"; Reuters"Key N.Korea Editorial Gives No Hint on Nuclear Talks"NYT 31 Dec 05:-"North Korea pledged in New Year message to channel its resources into farming but made no mention of slow-moving six-country talks... Reclusive state also vowed in state media editorial to thwart any US aggression against it...The annual editorial is traditionally heavy on communist propaganda and anti-US rhetoric, but is also seen as barometer of policy direction for coming year... North Korean editorial also called for modernisation of industrial activities, focusing on 'projects that are of weighty importance and profitable'. North Korea is one of world's most impoverished states but is also the most militarised country relative to population with about 1.2m active forces - one in about every 20 people. 'It is the real intention of US not to hesitate to plunge the Korean nation to nuclear catastrophe in order to execute its Korea strategy', editorial said. 'The entire nation should firmly defend peace and security on Korean peninsula by turning out in the struggle to resolutely foil the US attempt to launch another war'"; AP"N. Korea Urges U.S. Pullout From S. Korea"NYT 01 Jan 06:-"North Korea... accused US of seeking to start a new war on Korean Peninsula, vowing to boost its own military and calling for withdrawal of US troops from South Korea... 'We must remove the root cause of war completely from this land by launching a nationwide campaign for driving out the US troops'. Message did not mention international standoff over North Korea's nuclear programs... Editorial called agriculture 'the main front of the economic construction this year'. It added, however, that the miltary remained 'a top priority'"; David E.Sanger"The Nuclear Problem and Our Pal Beijing"NYT 01 Jan 2006:-"Biggest test of Washington-Beijing realpolitik in 2006 may be North Korea and Iran. For the first time, White House finds itself deeply dependent on active help of China's leaders. If it has any hope of stopping nuclear programs in Pyongyang and Tehran, it needs Beijing's leverage. Unfortunately for Bush, the interests of China and US are quite different. So far the Chinese have only been willing to act as a neutral broker as chair of the 'six-party talks', cajoling both Bush and President Kim Jong Il of North Korea to sign up to a vague set of principles for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula... For the Chinese, stalemate may be fine. While they worry about nuclear weapons, they fear a collapse of North Korean regime even more. That could send starving North Koreans over the border, and bring South Korean and US troops right up to Chinese border. Result... is that while US remains tied up in Iraq, North's weapons program can sputter forward"; AP"S. Korean Leader Names Point Man on North"NYT 02 Jan 06:-"South Korea's president appointed a top security aide as country's point man on North Korea... Lee Jong-seok, 48, a top official at National Security Council that oversees nation's foreign and security policies, succeeds Chung Dong-young as unification minister... 'Lee is an expert on North Korea' [office of president said]. He 'has played an important role in embodying government's philosophy in foreign and security affairs'. Chung... considered a likely candidate for 2007 presidential election to succeed Roh... As unification minister, Lee will represent the government in Cabinet-level talks with North Korea, the highest bilateral dialogue between the divided states. Meetings convene several times a year to discuss measures to boost exchanges and ease tension"; AP"N. Korea Says Sanctions Tabling Nuke Talks"NYT 03 Jan 06:-"North Korea said it cannot return to international nuclear disarmament talks unless US lifts sanctions imposed for its alleged currency counterfeiting and other illegal activities... 'US sanctions are obviously the fundamental element that disrupts the six-party talks', [North's ruling Workers Party] newspaper said. Also, a pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan said the North's leader is 'determined to go on an all-out offensive' and will take a 'resolute measure' regarding the nuclear issue... Expert... said the report suggests steps aimed at boosting country's negotiating power, such as test-firing a missile or increasing its nuclear arsenal. But [he] said a nuclear test was unlikely 'as it would provoke China and other neighbouring countries too much'"; AP"U.S. Envoy Urges N. Korea to Resume Talks"NYT 04 Jan 06:-"US amb in Seoul urged North to stop attaching conditions for resuming talks on its nuclear program, a day after communist country renewed its demand that Washington lift sanctions against it... Prospect of resuming negotiations have become increasingly unclear as North Korea disputes US sanction, imposed for its alleged currency counterfeiting and other illicit activities... On [03 Jan] North said resuming negotiations would be 'impossible' while Washington maintains the sanctions... North Korea called [US] allegations a 'sheer lie' and threatened to boycott the nuclear talks. Washington says it has convincing evidence... On [04 Jan], South Korean FM said the two issues were separate... Later in the day, North said it doesn't believe the US promise to coexist with the communist country"; Reuters"Korea Nuclear Talks Face 'Complications': China"NYT 05 Jan 06:-"Six-party talks... face 'some new and complicated factors', host China said [05 Jan], urging North Korea and US to work out their problems... Chinese FM spokesman... told a regular news conference... talks were confronted with some new and complicated factors. Referring to latest face-off between Pyongyang and Washington, [he] added: 'China hopes each party can take the overall situation into consideration and handle properly issues that both sides are concerned about. China is willing to play an active and constructive role in pushing forward the talks', he said"; James Brooke"By Order of North Korea, U.N. Halts Food Assistance There"NYT 06 Jan 06:-"UN World Food Program, which was helping to feed a third of the 22m of North Korea as recently as Aug, has ended all feeding programs there at the request of the government. 'Operations are completely halted', Richard Ragan, who represents agency in Pyongyang, said... 'We were feeding 600,000 people in Dec. As of 01 Jan we are feeding nobody'. Agency has closed its five offices outside Pyongyang, closed its 19 food processing plants in the country and cut its foreign staff there nearly in half, to about 25, Ragan said. In last decade agency has spent estimated $1.7b to feed North Koreans. A major source of food for nation's poor, agency is believed to have helped cut malnutrition rates. North Korean officials have justified the shutdown by saying that after a decade of receiving Western aid, they want Western groups to shift to work that will help the nation become more developed... Officials also say that this fall's bumper harvest is putting the country on the road to agricultural self-sufficiency... In a symbolic gesture, the North shipped one ton of rice to South Korea last week, first such food shipment since 1984. Many foreign analysts say the secretive nation's rulers are pursuing a strategy to cut the number of Westerners roaming the countryside inspecting food distribution networks"; AP"U.S., S. Korea Withdraw Power Plant Staff"NYT 08 Jan o6:-"US and South Korea withdrew their last remaining staff from site of two North Korean nuclear reactors [08 Jan], ending decade-old construction project amid rekindled tension over North's nuclear ambitions... The reactors - a type difficult to use for unintended military purposes - were a reward to North, along with free fuel oil supplies, for agreeing to freeze and dismantle its nuclear program under a 1994 deal with US. Project stopped after a dispute in late 2002 over US allegations that North Korea pursued a clandestine atomic bomb program in violation... It was about 35% complete when halted. About $1.5b has been spent so far of the $4.6b reactor project, funded mainly by South Korea and Japan... North Korea protested consortium's decision and demanded unspecified compensation from US, barring removal of 93 pieces of heavy construction equipment and about 190 South Korean cars and some buses from the site, about 125 miles north of South Korean border"; Reuters "N.Korea Says Nuclear Talks Are Illogical"NYT 09 Jan 06:-"North Korea sees no point in returning to six-country nuclear talks because of US sanctions, Pyongyang said, adding Washington would probably veto any deal to end the North's ambitions anyway... 'Under present situation it is illogical to discuss with US, the assailant, issue of dismantling the nuclear deterrent built up by [North] for self defense'... 'Even if any agreement is reached between the parties concerned, it is likely to be overturned by a person in high authority of US', spokesman said"; AP"N. Korea Says U.S. Must Lift Sanctions"NYT 09 Jan 06:-"North Korea sent its highest-level signal yet that international talks aimed at ending its nuclear programs unlikely to resume soon, repeating its demand that US drop sanctions to end the impasse... Statement carried a broad rejection of US claims, which was significant as it marked first time for Foreign Ministry to issue such a denial. 'We examined the information US side provided to us, claiming it was the motive of its application of sanctions', FM statement said. 'Such things cited by it, however, have never happened in our country'"; Reuters"Where Is N.Korea's Kim? Officials Hunt for Clues"NYT 10 Jan 06:-"North Korea's Kim Jong-il passed through China [10 Jan] on the way to Russia, a source with knowledge of the stopover said, but where precisely the secretive leader was headed remained far from clear... Not clear what would be behind a visit to Russia. But Kim has visited there before and has sought in past to balance North's relations between chief ally Beijing and Russia... China is North's sole remaining ally of consequence and a vital source of economic aid"; Joseph Kahn"North Korean Is Said to Pay a Secret Visit to Chinese"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader reportedly making secret visit to China by train at a time when Chinese-sponsored talks over North Korea's nuclear program have reached impasse, South Korean news media and Western news agencies said [11 Jan]... Kim has made stealth state visits to China and Russia before... Talks between Kim and Chinese leaders would almost certainly address stalemate in six-nation nuclear talks... But there is current debate in Washington over whether it is in interest of US to continue prolonged and inconclusive negotiations over North's development of nuclear weapons, administration officials and members of Congress have said"; AP"N. Korea Leader Reportedly Visits Shanghai"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly visited Shanghai [11 Jan], prompting speculation the rare foray to his country's closest ally might signal willingness to resume talks over Pyongyang's nuclear program. None of reports of visit could be independently confirmed, and there was no sign of any unusual activity or added security in China's commercial hub. China has in the past announced the secretive Kim's visits only after he has returned to North Korea. His last visit was in early 2004... Experts...said a visit could signal the hard-line communist regime was considering dropping its refusal to resume six-nation nuclear talks... Kim's trip may also show how Washington's tough stance toward Pyongyang is pushing it closer to China... Beijing has long urged Pyongyang to adopt Chinese-style economic reforms, partly to reduce its dependence on food and fuel aid. China promised North Korea billions of dollars in additional aid last year. Kim might be seeking assurances... China's FM said [10 Jan] that Kim planned to visit Beijing at some point - and that the nuclear issue would be a key topic for discussion - but did not give exact timing"; AP"U.S. Pointman on Nuke Talks Visiting Asia"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"Top US negotiator for international nuclear talks with North Korea [, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill,] is visiting Japan, South Korea and China this week for consultations aimed at breaking impasse in stalled negotiations, Seoul's FM said [11 Jan]"; Reuters"US Envoy to N.Korea Nuclear Talks Starts Asian Tour"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"US envoy held talks in Tokyo and Seoul [11 Jan] to shore up crumbling negotiations on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs... Diplomatic sources said Kim told [Beijing's chief negotiator] North Korea would crack down on illegal financial activities and punish those involved if US could prove they were taking place, Kyodo [Japanese paper] said"; Douglas Jehl"North Korea and Iran Win Special Notice at Spy Center"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"Director of [US] national intelligence, John D.Negroponte, has created new 'mission managers' for Iran and North Korea, adding those countries to a short list of top-priority challenges for US intelligence agencies... New managers...will be reponsible, among other things, for identifying and filling gaps in intelligence... Joseph DeTrani, who has served most recently as US special envoy to six-party talks on North Korea, has been given rank of amb and is taking on North Korea portfolio... In its report last year,.. an independent panel appointed by President Bush, described US intelligence on... North Korea as woefully inadequate"; AP"North Korean Leader's Whereabouts Unknown"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"Whereabouts of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il remained unclear [12 Jan], with Hong Kong-based TV network speculating he may be headed for south Chinese city of Guangzhou, while other reports put him in Beijing or Russia"; AP"U.S. Wants to Resume N.Korea Nuke Talks"NYT 11 Jan 06:-"US wants to quickly resume nuclear talks with North Korea, US envoy to Seoul said, as top US negotiator headed [from Seoul] to China for discussions on North's nuclear ambitions... Hill...would seek information in Beijing on latest North Korean thinking from its closest ally"; Reuters"US Envoy in China as Rumors on N.Korea's Kim Swirl"NYT 12 Jan 06:-"Top US negotiator with North Korea said in Beijing he would try to breathe life into stalled nuclear talks... Hill said he had no plans to meet North Korean officials in Beijing but hinted Kim might also be in China... US Treasury officials would head to South Korea and China, including Macau, in next 10 days to discuss US concerns about North Korea's suspected illicit activities... Officials speculated if Kim was indeed in China, his visit could give new impetus to negotiating process"; AP"U.S. Envoy Won't Meet With Kim in China"NYT 12 Jan 06:-"Assistant US Secretary of State Christopher Hill met with Chinese officials in Beijing [12 Jan], but declined to give details of discussions... Earlier, he said he had 'no plans' to meet with Kim"; Reuters "Police Guard China Hotel Amid Rumors Over NKorea's Kim"NYT 12 Jan 06:-"Unusually tight police security in and around a five-star hotel in south China sparked speculation reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may be in town as diplomatic efforts to kick-start six-party talks on North's nuclear programs got under way... Leaving Chinese capital several hours [after arrival there], Hill said he had good talks with his Chinese counterpart"; AP"North Korean Leader Visits Southern China"NYT 12 Jan 06:-"Kim Jong Il is on two-day visit to southern Chinese province of Guangdong, Hong Kong newspaper reported"; Reuters "China Hotel Battens Down Amid Kim Visit Rumors"NYT 13 Jan 06; David Lague"Is North Korea's Leader in China? Hints Say So, but Chinese Won't"NYT 13 Jan 06:-"In a big Chinese city... thousands of police officers may block all approach roads so that a senior Chinese leader or visiting dignitary can sweep along empty avenues... Senior Chinese officials have said Beijing is encouraging North Korea to adopt some of the same free-market reforms that rescued the planned economy of China from decades of stagnation, and Beijing may be eager to show Kim its showcase example"; Reuters"North Korea's Kim Rumored Visiting China Market Zone"NYT 14 Jan 06:-"Speculation secretive North Korean... is touring southern China increased with reports he traveled to Shenzhen, city China holds up as a model market hub"; AP"N.Korea Gives Posthumous Medal to American"NYT 14 Jan 06:-"North Korea has awarded a medal for the first time to an American - the late leader of a US-based aid group - for his efforts to help the communist state fight hunger and poverty, a news report said"; James Brooke"Koreans Find Prime Property Near the DMZ"NYT 15 Jan 06:-"Six miles from the heavily mined and guarded zone that divides North Korea from South Korea, workers... are starting to produce liquid-crystal display screens at a new $5b plant. Nearby, apartment buildings are on the rise [and] cheery billboard announces that... new 65-acre language-teaching theme park will open in Mar... Political detente between the two countries is bearing economic fruit as South Korea's economic expansion washes away psychological barriers and now laps at southern edge of long-feared DMZ. Stampede to what developers bill as last best place near Seoul is propelled by the pressure of nearly 50m people squeezed into South Korea... One way to cut costs is to move production to where land is cheap... Now polls indicate that fewer and fewer South Koreans believe that the two countries will ever again go to war. A heavily militarized but largely bankrupt nation, North Korea has an economy that is 3% the size of South Korea's"; Reuters"N. Korea's Kim Tours Chinese Boom Town"NYT 15 Jan 06:-"Leader of isolated North Korea spent weekend viewing China's economic boom, but... unlikely to go home without meeting Chinese leaders to discuss how to resume stalled nuclear talks"; Reuters"NKorea's Kim Visits China Telecoms Company"NYT 15 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader.., keen to accelerate economic modernization but wary of opening up the country, visited China's top telephone and Internet systems maker, Hong Kong newspapers said... Analysts say North Korean government's near-total grip on flow of information is critical to keeping it in power... Country has a domestic Internet, but it is not widely available, and access to World Wide Web is impossible for the vast majority of North Koreans"; Reuters"North Korea's Kim Heads for Beijing: Paper" NYT 16 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader... has left south China for Beijing where he will meet top leaders, newspaper said, with discussions likely to include fate of six-party talks on North's nuclear program"; Reuters"China and North Korea Mix Business and Politics"NYT 17 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader... likely meeting top Chinese leaders in Beijing [17 Jan] after tour of China's booming commercial south... Beijing wants to prevent North Korea from economic collapse, because that would probably speed unification with South Korea - US ally... In past two years, economic flows between China and North Korea have leapt. In first 11 months of 05, official trade between the two reached $1.45b, a rise of 23.1% on a year earlier... While Kim may want to learn more about China's economy, it is unlikely he wants to emulate China's rapid economic liberalization"; Reuters"N. Korean Leader Reportedly Ends China Visit"NYT 17 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader appeared to have left China [17 Jan] after meeting Chinese leaders in Beijing to discuss six-party talks... BBC quoted Hong Kong-based semi-official China News Agency as saying Kim met Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao separately"; AP"North Korean Leader Reportedly in Beijing"NYT 17 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader reportedly arrived [17 Jan] in Beijing for talks with President on resuming stalled negotiations aimed at ending North's nuclear development... Kim believed to have spent nearly a week visiting China's booming south on a study tour of economic reform... A spokeswoman from US Embassy [Beijing] said [Christopher] Hill arrived in Chinese capital and was scheduled to meet US businesses and China's Deputy FM, with whom he will discuss 'bilateral issues'"; Reuters"US Envoy on N.Korea in Surprise Trip to Beijing"NYT 18 Jan 06:-"Top US envoy on North Korea's nuclear program said [18 Jan] he had good discussions with his hosts during a surprise trip to Beijing... Christopher Hill made a whistle-stop tour through Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing last week to meet negotiators on troubled six-party talks... 'We had a meeting hosted by the Chinese. I talked to the Chinese. It was a good discussion. There is no development, nothing to report', Hill told reporters before leaving"; Reuters"North Korean Leader Completes 8-Day Visit to China"NYT 18 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader returned home [18 Jan] from visit to China, where he told Chinese leaders he would work with them to overcome obstacles blocking nuclear talks, official KCNA news agency said... KCNA issued a lengthy report on Kim's visit, which focused on studying China's economic reforms in southern China, and talks with [President] Hu and others in Beijing... Agency said Kim spoke with Chinese leaders of 'difficulties lying in process of six-party talks', but there was no change in North's stand on denuclearising Korean peninsula... 'He pointed out that [North] would join Chinese comrades in the efforts to seek a way of overcoming the difficulties lying in way of six-party talks, and steadily advance the talks', KCNA said"; AP"Kim Says He Wants to End Nuclear Standoff"NYT 18 Jan 06:-"North Korean leader said committed to a peaceful resolution of standoff over his country's nuclear ambitions, as Pyongyang confirmed that Kim had visited China over past week. Trip... had raised expectations of a resumption of stalled six-nation talks on North's nuclear programs. Kim's trip ended same day main US nuclear envoy was in Beijing to meet with Chinese officials over nuclear issue. News report said... Hill also talked with his North Korean counterpart, but Hill made no mention of any such meeting... Kim called for a joint effort with Chinese 'to overcome the difficulties in the six-way talks and to find a way to move forward', according to KCNA... 'Describing talks as an efficient mechanism to solve Korean Peninsula nuclear issue appropriately, Hu reiterated China's principled stance, noting that it is a correct choice to properly settle relevant problems by peaceful means through dialogues', official Xinhua News Agency said... According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, Hill also held a meeting... with his North Korean counterpart... Talks were mediated by Chinese Vice FM, Yonhap said... Kim said he told Hu during their meeting in Beijing about his 'impressions of his visit to the central/southern parts of China where the cause of modernization is being successfully carried out', according to KCNA"; Joseph Kahn"North Korean Leader Completes 8-Day Visit to China"NYT 18 Jan 06:-"Kim Jong Il... completed an eight-day visit to China today that was notable for his intensive focus on China's booming economy and for enigmatic air of secrecy that enshrouded his every move... Both sides termed clandestine trip unofficial, but gave no reason why they chose to use that term. China's main national TV detailed Kim's schedule, which it said included separate meetings with President Hu Jintao and all other eight members of ruling Politburo Standing Committee as well as high-profile tours of two Chinese provinces... Both countries reiterated their commitment to [multinational] talks, but offered no tangible sign that that would resume soon after a long hiatus. North Korea's state news agency said the two countries 'unanimously agreed to maintain stand of seeking a negotiated peaceful solution'... North Korean agency said Kim mentioned that the talks faced difficulties... But it quoted Kim as saying that North Korea 'would join Chinese comrades in efforts to seek a way of overcoming difficulties lying in the way of six-party talks'... Chinese state TV showed [Kim] touring high-tech factories and massive Three Gorges Dam on Yangtze River... Hu accompanied Kim to a crop research institute, where scientists are exploring hybrid rice and wheat... His focus raised expectations, especially in South Korea, that Kim planned to undertake a new round of economic liberalization at home... One possibility widely discussed among experts was that North Korea would seek to create a capitalist-oriented entrepot on its Western coast"; Reuters"S.Korea Hopes Kim's China Visit Spurs Arms Talks" NYT 18 Jan 06:-"South Korea's Foreign Minister [Ban Ki-moon] voiced hope that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's visit to China would spur nuclear disarmament talks and had taught him something about economic reforms... 'We hope North Korean leader and senior officials of North Korea (have) learned good lessons from the reform and good economic development process of China', Ban told reporters... Kim, in China 10-18 Jan at invitation of President Hu, said he would try to remove obstacles blocking six-party talks... Ban refused to discuss his candidacy for UNSG when Annan's term ends at end of 2006... But he is known to have met ambassadors from UNSC powers who are crucial in making the decision"; Joseph Kahn"The Secret's Out: North Korea's Leader Did Visit China"NYT 18 Jan 06:-"[Kim visit's] stealthiness may underscore North Korea's insecurity, but it also shows China's determination to coddle its neighbour and perhaps coax it to embrace Chinese-style economic changes, regional analysts said. Beijing is also eager to keep North Korea engaged in multinational talks... Some South Korean analysts said the confluence of discussions about the nuclear issue held out hope that the talks would be revived, though few expect them to make much progress soon. 'Kim Jong Il knows that he can't get more economic help from China while sticking to his nuclear weapons program', said... North Korea expert... in Seoul. 'So he was reaffirming that he intends to give it up when some obstacles are removed'"; David Sanger"Questions Without Answers: The Korean Conundrum"NYT 19 Jan 06:-Article constitutes a thoughtful review of the recent book by Gordon C.Chang:"Nuclear Showdown". "[W]hat lies north of [Korean DMZ] poses one of the most vexing problems facing President Bush... Korean dictator Kim Jong Il and his small coterie of well-fed leaders have loaded up their starving nation with nuclear weapons fuel... Kim has filled gulags on a scale that might make Stalin blush and played South Korea, China, Japan and US off against each other in a shell game over nuclear disarmament. Not bad for a bunch of hermits... In short, Chang accurately concludes containment has failed. [But] he fails to grapple head-on with the question: What, exactly, is the risk posed by a nuclear North Korea? [T]he big question, and one Chang glides by, is whether the North would sell its only viable export product to someone else, say an al Qaeda terrorist or an Iranian mullah who is tired of waiting for his scientists to cook their own uranium. And that is the real danger of what has happened on Bush's watch. [A] North that... knows how to churn out fuel for atomic weapons suddenly has the makings of a family business"; Reuters"N.Korean, US Envoys Discuss Stalled Nuclear Talks"NYT 19 Jan 06:-"US and North Korean envoys to talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear program met in Beijing, a Chinese official said, raising hopes the stalled negotiations could resume. Meeting... took place right after North Korean leader's trip to China. China's top envoy to the talks also attended... The nuclear negotiators discussed Washington's clamp-down on companies it suspects helped North Korea with counterfeiting, money laundering and the drug trade, diplomatic sources said... 'North Korea feels it is running out of time', [South Korean specialist] said, adding Pyongyang is taking a look at working with China to find a compromise to diminish the impact of [US] sanctions that would also include North Korea returning to the table"; Reuters"China Proposes Nuclear Talks in Early Feb: Report"NYT 20 Jan 06:-"China has proposed that stalled six-party talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programs be resumed early next month, a proposal that US also favors, Kyodo news agency reported"; Norimitsu Onishi"North Korea Takes a Peek Down China's Capitalist Road"NYT 20 Jan 06:-"After Kim's visit [to China], a debate erupted over whether he was truly seeking to inject new momentum into economic liberalization and reforms that North Korea began carrying out in 2002... But more fundamental question:.. has he the ability?.. Most analysts say he has no choice but to try to push ahead with liberalization... Results of [his] 2001 visit appeared to take form in North Korea's economic policies... Planning was decentralized... Wages were raised and based on performance; prices for commodities were allowed to fluctuate according to supply and demand... People were allowed to sell food/consumer goods in markets. North joined with South Korean company to establish Kaesong special economic zone... But last fall, government seemed to reassert its control over economy by closing markets in the capital and partly reinstating its distribution of rations... In latest trip, Kim's entourage included many economic officials presumably raring to replicate Chinese-style reforms at home. This time... raising expectations that a new round of economic liberalization would entail creation of similar capitalist enclaves. In addition to expanding two zones just north of DMZ, North might resurrect two dormant ones along its borders with China/Russia... Crucial differences may curb North's efforts to pull off Chinese-style market reforms. While China used its large agricultural sector to expand its industrial base, North's economy is already largely industrialized, albeit with hulking, Stalinist factories that are all but useless... To carry market reforms to next level, analysts say, North would need to repair relations with US and Japan. Only then would it secure necessary energy resources and aid to run, repair or build its factories"; Reuters"U.S. Officials in Seoul on N.Korea's Financial Moves"NYT 21 Jan 06:-"US Treasury officials visited Seoul to discuss ways to stop North Korea's alleged illegal financial activities that Washington suspects were helping finance North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons"; Reuters "S.Korea's Roh Wants Korean Peace Treaty Talks"NYT 24 Jan 06:-"South Korea wants to begin discussions for permanent peace treaty to replace armistice with North Korea, President Roh said. Roh agreed with US President Bush in Nov that peace treaty talks should take place in parallel with ongoing negotiations to dismantle North's nuclear weapons program"; AP"S. Korean President Wants U.S. Agreement"NYT 24 Jan 06:-"South Korea's president said he hopes for an agreement this year on taking back wartime control of the country's military from US. [Korean] conflict ended in 1953 truce, but control over South's forces remained with a US general as chief of UN command, or South Korea-US Combined Forces Command. In 94, South Korea regained peacetime control of its military, but chief of US forces [set to decline to about 24,500] in South Korea is still able to take control during wartime. 'I will closely consult US to conclude issue of South Korean military regaining wartime operational command within this year', President Rod said"; AP"U.S. Increases Pressure on North Korea"NYT 24 Jan 06:-"US demanded that South Korea join efforts to curb North Korea's alleged counterfeiting and money laundering activities, despite North's threat to boycott nuclear talks if US sanctions not lifted. South Korean President Roh... said opposes pressuring North Korea to resolve nuclear standoff. 'I don't agree to some opinions in US that appear to... be wanting to pressure North Korea and its collapse', Roh told national TV news conference. 'If US tries to resolve problem that way, there will be friction between South Korea and US. But, so far there is no disagreement'. But in move expected to anger Pyongyang, South Korea announced it would partially cooperate with US-led international drive to block trafficking in weapons of mass destruction... Latest US and South Korean moves will likely affect efforts to reconvene talks on eliminating North's nuclear program, an expert said... [US Treasury] urged Seoul 'to further strengthen its regime in area of WMD proliferation by focusing efforts to financially isolate WMD proliferators and their support networks', US Embassy said... Seoul been noncommittal on whether it shares US belief that North engaged in illicit activities... 'Wary of Pyongyang's anger, South Korea also hasn't committed itself to the Proliferation Security Initiative, which involves maritime drills to stop and search ships suspected of carrying nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, materials to make them, or missiles to deliver them. But South said [24 Jan] it will provide 'possible cooperation' with the effort, such as sending delegates to observe exercises and including WMD interdiction drills in regular military exercises with US'. South Korea made clear not considering participation in PSI drills or providing logistical support"; AP"SKorea Warns U.S. Against Pressuring North"NYT 25 Jan 06:-"South Korea's president [25 Jan] warned Washington against pressuring North Korea to force totalitarian regime's collapse, while North kept up its demands that Washington lift financial sanctions... Roh avoided directly answering whether South believes North engaged in counterfeiting, money laundering and drug trafficking... He said matter required review and consideration of how measures are 'related to efforts to resolve nuclear issue and if that involves any intention to pressure North Korea's regime'. But Roh said coercive steps were not the way to resolve latest dispute over North's nuclear ambitions... Tensions between South and Washington were laid bare when South Korea's FM said it hadn't been asked by a visiting US Treasury delegation to take action to prevent illegal financial activity by North... On [25 Jan] North repeated its demand. 'If US truly wants resumption of six-party talks... it had better opt for lifting its financial sanctions against (North) and coexisting with it', North's official KCNA said... North Korea, which had used Macau bank for decades as a main channel for outside funds, called sanctions a 'sheer lie' and evidence of US hostility against communist regime"; Reuters"US Urges Asia Action to Halt N. Korea Counterfeiting"NYT 25 Jan 06:-"US Treasury Department [25 Jan] urged Asian countries to take action to stop Pyongyang's suspected illegal activities including counterfeiting US currency... 'Illicit financial activities are threats to all of our financial systems', Treasury official told reporters... It black-listed eight North Korean companies on grounds they supported Pyongyang's nuclear-weapons program... Said not clear how much impact US actions had on North Korean economy. Several analysts have said North Korea was feeling the pinch... Pyongyang has said it would be unthinkable for it to return to six-party nuclear talks when Washington is trying to bring down its rulers with financial sanctions"; Reuters"China Sets Example but Feels Strains: Zoellick"NYT 25 Jan 06:-"China offers hardline communist North Korea a prototype of market reform, but China's rulers must contend with their country's own intense development strains, US Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick said. [He] told reporters Chinese officials had briefed him on recent visit by Kim Jong-il... 'Kim certainly got a good sense... of what can be done in Chinese system... What I understand is that course was chosen by Kim', Zoellick said. He cited a Chinese official's assessment of Kim's journey: 'What he sees is there's socialism, there's a Communist Party, and there's rampant capitalism, and he's trying to reconcile that'"; Reuters "N.Korea Hints at Curbing Money Laundering"NYT 25 Jan 06:-"North Korea, facing US crackdown on suspected illicit activities, has hinted it might observe international standards on money laundering but Washington wants action,...Christopher Hill said... [He] said hint came when he met in Beijing with North Korean counterpart... and Chinese officials in an effort to restart stalled negotiations... Pyongyang is believed to earn as much as $1 billion annually from these activities... Hill said he believes US Treasury is satisfied with South Korean cooperation"; Martin Fackler"North Korean Counterfeiting Complicates Nuclear Crisis"NYT 26 Jan 06:-"Using government printing presses to run off another country's currency... would appear to be the sort of criminal act that demands tough international penalties. But Washington's effort to press its case has become mired in the tricky politics of an even larger and more serious problem: nuclear proliferation... South Korea...apparently fears that pushing the counterfeiting issue could derail efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions... That is why when... Treasury Department arrived [Seoul] to ask for South Korea's cooperation to stop the counterfeiting, US got a chilly... response... US says it has found $45m in supernotes, which it says North Korea has used to prop up its decrepit economy and keep its leaders in luxury... While Washington favors a harder line, Seoul hopes a gentler approach may one day lead to a reunification of the two Koreas, specialists say... South Korea and other nations have concerns that hard-liners in Bush administration may be using issue to drive a tougher bargain with North Korea, or to derail the talks. Many wonder why US has chosen to raise counterfeiting issue now, after remaining virtually silent for more than a decade... Critics point out that penalties, which outraged North Korea, were imposed suspiciously close to an apparent breakthrough in six-party nuclear talks... Former State Department official who oversaw investigation into North Korean counterfeiting, offered a different explanation. Bush ordered the inquiry soon after taking power in 2001, and it took 150 federal officials four years of sleuthing to assemble the evidence"; Reuters"US General Says to Move with Seoul on Troop Command"NYT 26 Jan 06:-"US ready to move as fast as South Korean government sees possible in order to allow Seoul to take command of its troops from US military in the event of war, a senior US general said... Most important element in transferring war-time command was capability of South Korean forces and the issue was complicated by the UN command in South Korea, which is a legacy of 1950-53 Korean War"; Reuters"Rice Says US Ready to Resume Six - Party Talks"NYT 26 Jan 06:-"US ready to resume six-party talks with North Korea 'immediately' as long as Pyongyang does not impose any conditions, US Secretary of State Rice said... North Korea has said it would be unthinkable to return to talks aimed at getting Pyongyang to drop its nuclear programs while Washington imposed what amounted to 'financial sanctions'. Asked if there was a way to resolve this impasse, Rice said North Koreans should start 'living up to the law'... US has in recent months acted against several firms and a Macau-based bank suspected of involvement in counterfeiting, money laundering and drug trafficking by North"; AP"Japan, North Korea Plan to Resume Talks"NYT 27 Jan 06:-"Japan and North Korea will meet in Beijing... to discuss normalizing relations, Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese citizens, and the communist regime's nuclear weapons program. Talks will start 04 Feb and run for several days... Japan's top priority would be the abduction issue"; Reuters"S.Korea Sees Nuclear Talks with N.Korea in Feb"NYT 27 Jan 06:-"South Korean FM Ban Ki-moon said [in Davos] he saw signs that six-party talks with North Korea... could resume as early as [Feb]... Ban said US [Treasury] measures were not sanctions but simply law enforcement measures... North Korea [had] said it would not offer any concessions to Washington or bow to hardliners, who Pyongyang feels are trying to pressure it backs to the table and topple its leaders with economic sanctions"; AP"N. Korea Refutes Pyongyang Bird Flu Report"NYT 27 Jan 06:-"North Korean officials say that have had no reported cases of bird flu among humans or poultry, disputing a report this week that a woman was admitted to a Pyongyang hospital with the illness, a Beijing-based UN official said. UN officials met with representatives of North Korea's ministry... and were told that there have been no outbreaks among poultry since a case was reported last Apr, and no reported human cases at all... Head of a human rights group in Japan said that a woman infected with bird flu had been hospitalized in North Korea in Dec, and that leader Kim Jong Il had ordered government to eradicate the disease among chickens and other birds ...UN FAO has 'no option but to accept what the officials say to us'... The isolated nation has said it is prepared for a possible outbreak of the disease. In Apr 05, North culled about 210,000 chickens and other poultry after an outbreak of bird flu that FAO said was successfully contained"; AP"North Korea Warns of Nuclear War"NYT 28 Jan 06:-"North Korea warned of nuclear war and vowed to strengthen its deterrent forces as it demanded that Washington show evidence backing its allegation that the communist regime is counterfeiting US money... North repeatedly has accused US of planning to attack. Washington has denied any such intention... North Korea has recently stepped up criticism of US for imposing sanctions over its alleged illicit activities. In Sep, Washington slapped restrictions on a bank in Chinese territory of Macau, saying it had helped North distribute counterfeit money and engage in smuggling. Month later, Washington imposed sanctions on eight North Korean companies it said were fronts for proliferating weapons of mass destruction"; Reuters"S.Korea Seeks Military Assurances on Ties with North"NYT 31 Jan 06:-"South Korea is hoping military talks this week with North will lay foundation for more confidence-building measures between the two armies on the Cold War's last frontier, officials said. Efforts to substantially reduce military tensions between North and South... have lagged behind political and economic cooperation in recent years... Military generals from the two Koreas agreed at rare talks in 2004 on measures to prevent deadly naval clashes and to take down propaganda signs along heavily fortified border"; Reuters"N.Korea Slightly Tones Down Nuclear Talks Rhetoric"NYT 31 Jan 06:-"North Korea slightly toned down the rhetoric [31 Jan] about its reluctance to return to six-party muclear talks, but analysts said too many obstacles remain for a quick resumption of discussions... North Korea criticized US but stopped short of dismissing a return to talks, as it has done in recent weeks, analysts noted"; AP"North Korea Renews Commitment to Talks"NYT 31 Jan 06:-"North Korea renewed its commitment to stalled nuclear disarmament talks, while at the same time vowing to strengthen its stockpile of atomic weapons to counter what it called extreme US hostility. North Korea 'is sticking to its stand to seek ways of overcoming difficulties lying in the way of the six-party talks and of achieving progress in the talks', North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in commentary carried by KCNA... 'Now that the moves of the forces hostile to (North Korea) have reached their extreme phase, (North) is left with no other option but to bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defense', unidentified spokesman for North's Korean Jurists Committee said in statement carried by KCNA"; Reuters"Two Koreas Discuss Visit by Kim Dae - Jung to North"NYT 02 Feb 06:-"North and South Korea are in talks to allow former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to visit the North in Apr, as regional powers try to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons programs. Kim won a Nobel Peace prize for unprecedented and so far unrepeated meeting of leaders of two Koreas when he traveled to Pyongyang in Jun 00. Meeting set stage for greater inter-Korean cooperation... Kim has told media he would like to see rail links between Koreas completed soon"; AP"Agency: North Korea Not Counterfeiting"NYT 02 Feb 06:-"South Korea's spy agency said North Korea was not currently producing counterfeit currency, apparently contradicting US allegations that have become latest obstacle in nuclear disarmament talks... During session with lawmakers, [National Intelligence Service] said North Koreans were arrested in 1990s for counterfeiting but that it had no evidence of North making fake money after 1998"; Norimitsu Onishi"Here Comes the Sunshine, Down Go Korean Barricades"NYT 02 Feb 06:-"In [Uijongbu] that lies between Seoul and border with North Korea, an odd-looking gatelike structure rises above main street, ready to be dismantled. It still supports... several tons of concrete, [constituting] in fact an antitank fortification. In the event of an invasion, explosives would blow up the fortification and send concrete blocks crashing down to form an instant barricade. This would slow North Korean tanks... But in yet another sign of easing of tensions between Koreas, and changing nature of warfare, South Korean workers began dismantling fortification at Uijongbu last month... Indeed, several cities with roads leading to Seoul have quietly started doing the same in recent months... With the two Koreas still technically at war, the two fronts remain among the world's most heavily militarized, with hundreds of thousands of South and North Korean soldiers stationed on either side of DMZ. Checkpoints and military facilities dot the area. Still,... tension on South Korea's northern front decreased considerably as both sides agreed in 2004 to dismount loudspeakers that had been used for decades to blare propaganda across the DMZ"; Reuters"Senior South, North Korean Military Officers Meet"NYT 02 Feb 06:-"Military officers from South and North Korea began talks [02 Feb in Panmunjom] to lay foundation for more confidence-building measures, South's defense ministry said. Efforts to reduce military tensions between North and South... have lagged behind improving political and economic ties in recent years... Main item on agenda is setting up meeting of generals. There were two rare rounds of general-level talks in 2004 that resulted in agreement on measures to prevent deadly naval clashes, but generals have not met formally since. Naval clashes in fishing grounds of Yellow Sea in past years have killed or wounded scores of sailors on both sides... South Korean analysts say lagging support from North's military [is] for linking railways through border and making road travel less cumbersome. To help effort to join transport lines, president of South Korea's Railroad Corp. will visit North... Military plays powerful role in how communist country is run, and much of its creaking economic activity is geared to supporting the more than 1m-strong armed forces"; AP"Intelligence Chief Updates Congress on Threats"NYT 02 Feb 06:-"Al-Qaida is leading terrorism threat to US, followed by nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea, nation's intelligence chief said in forum that turned into debate on [US] government eavesdropping. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte tried to focus on terrorist threats, but lawmakers repeatedly returned to uproar surrounding National Security Agency's surveillance program... On North Korea, which boasts of having nuclear weapons, Negroponte said those claims are 'probably true'. He said government there sees nuclear weapons as best way to ensure security, prestige and economic gain. 'We do not know the conditions under which North Korea might be willing to fully relinquish its nuclear weapons and its weapons program', he said. He added that US intelligence is unaware of opposition to government among the country's elite"; Reuters"North and South Korean Generals to Meet: Seoul"NYT 03 Feb 06:-"North and South Korean generals will resume talks later this month or early in Mar on reducing military tensions and building confidence to help improve cross-border ties, South Korean official said [03 Feb]"; Reuters"US and S.Korea Can Defeat North: US General"NYT 03 Feb 06:-"US and South Korean forces could defeat North Korea's army, chairman of US Joint Chiefs of Staff said, but figuring out the secretive state's military policy is a difficult challenge. US has about 30,000 troops in South Korea working with about 690,000 South Korean troops... Washington is reducing its troop numbers in South Korea, in part because of greater overall commitments elsewhere, such as Iraq, but both US and South Korean officials say deterrent value of US force on peninsula remains crucial"; AP "Koreas Agree to Hold Rare Military Talks"NYT 03 Feb 06:-"South and North Korea agreed to hold military talks on level of generals for the first time in nearly two years, and South said they would focus on preventing naval clashes. South and North Korea fought deadly gun battles in 1999 and 2002 near their western maritime border, where fishing boats from the two rivals operate along the poorly-marked sea frontier during crab season... Upcoming talks will focus on finding way to avoid accidental clashes off peninsula's western coast and designating joint fishing areas"; Reuters"Japan Seeks Progress in Abduction Row with N.Korea"NYT 03 Feb 06:-"Japan headed into its first talks in more than three years on normalizing diplomatic ties with North Korea, seeking progress on a long-running row over abduction of its citizens by Pyongyang... Japan has said it would not normalize diplomatic ties with North Korea unless abduction issue was resolved... Japan will demand that North hand over agents suspected of playing a key role in kidnapping Japanese citizens, and return surviving abductees, Japanese officials said. Some analysts said Pyongyang could eventually agree to hand over at least one agent Tokyo believes had kidnapped several Japanese citizens decades ago. North Korea wants compensation for Japan's often-brutal 1910-45 colonization of the Korean peninsula. Tokyo has rejected that demand but has agreed to talk about aid... Tokyo also insists that Pyongyang halt its nuclear program before normalization can occur... Few analysts expect a breakthrough in Beijing"; Reuters"Japan and N.Korea to Tackle Row Over Kidnappings"NYT 04 Feb 06:-"Talks between Japan and North Korea aimed at improving relations will first try to resolve a row over Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese citizens, top diplomats from both sides said [04 Feb]"; Reuters"N.Korea Stresses Differences Over Abduction Row" NYT 04 Feb 06:-"North Korea went into talks with Japan on the two countries' row over Pyongyang's past abduction of Japanese citizens by saying that the two sides still have major differences on the topic... North's top negotiator... told reporters before entering talks that, while Pyongyang was prepared to listen to Japan on the topic, serious differences remained"; Reuters"N.Korea Human Rights Can Wait Till Peace: South Aide"NYT 06 Feb 06:-"South Korea's nominee for the top policy maker job on North Korea ventured into taboo territory by acknowledging the government of the North's leader Kim Jong-Il as a dictatorship... North saves some of its most heated rhetoric for those who question its human rights record. Analysts have said Seoul does not want to antagonize its neighbour by bringing up human rights... But Lee Jong-seok, the nominee for unification minister, acknowledged criticism against Kim's government during a parliamentary hearing... Lee could take office as early as this week... 'But... demanding an improvement in human rights conditions cannot come before pursuing a peace policy', he said. He would like to focus on reducing military tension"; Reuters"Japan Says Abduction Row Key to North Korea Ties"NYT 06 Feb 06:-"Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea... ended without agreement. [D]id not agree on economic compensation that Pyongyang claims because of Japan's often brutal colonization of the Korean peninsula 1910-1945... Little headway on the abductions issue. 'With regards to normalization of ties, this will be difficult if issue of abductees is not solved', Japan's chief negotiator told reporters... North Korean delegate... complained that Japan's offer - to give a lump-sum payment of economic aid rather than provide compensation for the occupation - did not deal with all Pyongyang's concerns', Kyodo news agency reported"; Reuters"Japan Says Little Progress in Talks with N.Korea"NYT 07 Feb 06:-"Japan urged North Korea to return to six-party talks on its nuclear program and halt missile development, but a Japanese official said Pyongyang insisted that Washington drop sanctions first"; Reuters"North and South Koreans in Winter Games March"NYT 07 Feb 06:-"North and South Korea will march together for the first time during a Winter Olympics opening ceremony... Still technically at war, the two Koreas will enter Turin's Olympic stadium as one team in a move to warm ties further... They will compete as two separate teams in the Games itself, however"; Reuters"Japan, North Korea Far Apart as Talks End in China"NYT 07 Feb 06:-"Talks between Japan and North Korea ended in rancor with both sides as far apart as ever over abductions of Japanese citizens and no agreement on when Pyongyang might return to six-way talks on its nuclear program. But both countries agreed to keep talking and try to hold another round at an early date... [Japan] criticized Pyongyang's demand to hand over Japanese members of non-governmental groups helping defectors leave the impoverished North"; AP"North Korea, Japan End Talks"NYT 08 Feb 06:-"North Korea and Japan ended five days of high-level talks aimed at establishing diplomatic relations without any agreements, citing major differences on North's abduction of Japanese nationals and its nuclear program... The two sides agreed to meet again to 'narrow our differences' but did not set a date... Japanese said...'we discovered there's a big difference of opinion'"; Reuters"Japan Says May Need to Put Pressure on N.Korea"NYT 08 Feb 06:-"Pressure may have to be put on North Korea to produce results from talks on normalising relations, Japan said, accusing Pyongyang of insincerity at discussions that ended in rancor "; Reuters"N.Korea Softens Tones but Still Blames US for Snag"NYT 09 Feb 06:-"North Korea called on US to back away from a crackdown on Pyongyang's finances, but toned down its rhetoric linking Washington's actions to its return to nuclear talks, a senior spokesman said... Statement covered little new ground, but its tone was different on a few key points from previous statement on the same topic. For instance, North did not accuse Washington of trying to topple its leaders through economic sanctions, nor did it dismiss the possibility of a return to the six-party talks"; Reuters"Study Challenges Image of Unchanging N. Korea"NYT 09 Feb 06:-"A 1990s famine gave isolated North Korea unprecedented exposure to foreign influences and brought economic and social changes that can be exploited to solve security problems, a new study published by a US think tank says. 'Hungry for Peace: International Security, Humanitarian Assistance, and Social Change in North Korea' argues that 'intelligent intervention' can melt the anxieties behind Pyongyang's belligerence and drive to build a nuclear arsenal... The 340-page study, published by the US Institute of Peace, documents 'massive social change' as a famine that killed a million people made a bankrupt socialist government unable to stop the marketization of the economy"; Reuters"Japan Denies Report N.Korea Lifting Missile Moratorium"NYT 10 Feb 06:-"A Japanese foreign ministry official denied a media report that North had indicated it would no longer adhere to its moratorium on missile test launches. Kyodo news agency had quoted Japanese government sources as saying that the comments came during talks between Japan and North Korea aimed at normalizing bilateral relations"; AP"North Korea Requests Fertilizer Aid"NYT 10 Feb 06:-"Impoverished North Korea has requested 150,000 tons of fertilizer from South Korea, months after the communist nation demanded that UN WFP halt emergency food shipments, an official said. North requested last week that South Korea begin delivering the fertilizer by the end of the month in time for spring... South Korea has periodically sent the North rice and fertilizer. Last year, it sent 500,000 tons of rice and 350,000 tons of fertilizer... The appeal for aid comes after the North said its food situation had improved and demanded an end to international food aid... South Korean government insists its donations are delivered to ordinary citizens"; Esther Pan"Q&A: South Korea's Role in a Dangerous Neighbourhood"Council on Foreign Relations 11 Feb 06:-summary of relevant sections: "[South Korea's] policy of engagement and growing cooperation with North Korea is pulling it away from US. 'All we know for sure is that South Korea's role is no longer junior partner to US', says David Kang[, Stanford Univ]. 'Major issue for Seoul is overwhelmingly North Korea, and everything else gets filtered through that lens', Kang says. South Korea looks to its northern neighbour with goal of eventual reunification, and therefore seeks economic cooperation and political engagement to smooth relations and slowly move down that path. US, on the other hand, is primarily seeking to prevent North from gaining nuclear weapons, and has refused to engage with Pyongyang until that issue is resolved. [Since] 1998 when [South's] Former President Kim Dae-Jung introduced 'Sunshine Policy' aimed at improving ties with North,.. 'degree of economic interaction between south and north has substantially increased'[Charles Armstrong, Columbia Univ.]. Trade between the two countries reached $697m in 2004, and South is now Pyongyang's second-largest trading partner after China... South sees engagement with North as yielding far more benefits than confrontation... South Korean officials say reunification would reduce the burden on each side of maintaining huge armies, help improve living standards, draw international investment, create employment, and help avert worst possibility: open war on Korean peninsula... Beijing, like Seoul, is investing in North Korea, which has ample natural resources - including coal, iron, and gold - and a low-cost labor force. Chinese investment in North... in 2005 was expected to reach $85-90m. Volume of trade between China and North Korea reached $1.5b in 2005... US has opposed South Korean engagement efforts with North Korea... Korean peninsula long has played a central role in Asia's geopolitical affairs... In recent years strain has emerged on a range of issues [between South Korea and US], none more important than how to handle Pyongyang"; Economist 11 Feb 06"Dealing With North Korea: Fission Worries"(Edit.14); "North Korea and Those Six-Party Talks: A Frustrating Game of Carrots and Sticks" (39-40):-Article offers an account of North Korea's apparent international crimes that is more detailed than usually offered, and the motives behind US counter-actions. Editorial comments: "The squeeze, [US] hoped, would help North Korea see that it has more to gain from reforming its economy, trading in its missiles and warheads and joining in Asia's rapid growth than from its gangster connections. China and South Korea aren't helping. China is North Korea's propper-up of last resort and by far its largest trading partner and investor. It dreads the instability on their common border that an economic collapse in North Korea might entail, and is reluctant to lean on Kim [Jong Il] over his bomb-making... South Korea has told North Korea that if it gives up its nuclear weapons, much more generous aid, investment and supplies of energy would quickly be on tap. But that is little incentive for Kim, who has shown scant regard... for welfare of ordinary North Koreans. He calculates that he has enough going for him to stay safely on top. Though it dislikes US's harsher tactics, South Korea's indulgence of Kim and his tyrannical habits is now undermining its own ends. It is not helping to resolve the nuclear issue. It is not helping to feed those North Koreans who really go hungry. And it is removing the incentive for the kinds of market-opening reforms that could ease their plight. The aim in getting those with a stake in the North Korea problem around the six-party table was to make it hard for Kim to play one off against the other and so hang on to his bombs and bad habits. He will be pleased at the outcome"; AP"N. Korea: Nuclear Talks Unlikely to Resume"NYT 13 Feb 06:-"North Korean official said [13 Feb] it was unlikely that international talks on country's nuclear weapons program will resume soon because of Washington's refusal to lift financial restrictions on businesses connected to North"; AP"Official: N. Korea Should Give Up Nukes"NYT 13 Feb 06:-"US amb to South Korea urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, saying that shedding program would benefit the communist nation and boost global security"; Reuters"North Korea Fetes Birthday Boy Kim, Questions Linger"NYT 15 Feb 06:-"For North Korea, leader Kim Jong-il's 64th birthday [16 Feb] is the 'most auspicious holiday of the nation', but for the outside world it is a time to ponder questions about a successor and a nuclear crisis. On [15 Feb], soldiers sang songs in praise of the 'Dear Leader', foreign dignitaries saw displays of Kimjongilia - a flower named after Kim - and cadres worked out how they would dispense to the masses extra food rations to mark the big day... In recent years, North Korea analysts typically mark the day by wondering when Kim will name one of his three known sons to succeed him in the world's only communist dynasty... North's main benefactor and last remaining ally, China, may have soured on the idea of anointing one of the sons"; Reuters"US Asks N.Korea to Prove It Stopped Counterfeiting"NYT 15 Feb 06:-"US wants North Korea to prove that tools used to counterfeit US currency had been destroyed to help it believe that Pyongyang had given up some illegal activities, Washington's envoy to South Korea said... Washington says North uses money earned from counterfeiting, money laundering and drug trafficking to help fund its nuclear weapons programs"; Reuters"Accused Macau Bank Ends Links with N.Korea: Lawyers"NYT 16 Feb 06:-"A Macau bank that US accused of helping North Korea launder money has ended all business with the isolated state and asked Washington to drop a proposed rule that would limit its business, its lawyers said... US Treasury said the bank provided financial services for over 20 years to North Korean agencies and front companies"; Reuters"Japanese Firms Searched Over N.Korean Bio Weapon Link"NYT 16 Feb 06:-"Police raided two Tokyo trading firms on suspicion they sold North Korea a device that can be converted to produce biological weapons, Kyodo news agency said... Companies are suspected of exporting a freeze dryer, which can be used to cultivate bacteria, to the communist state via Taiwan in 2002 without government permission... An increasing number of Japanese firms have been investigated in recent years on suspicion of illegally exporting such machinery to North Korea... A group of ruling party lawmakers urged [Japanese] government this week to impose economic sanctions on North Korea as a way to step up pressure on Pyongyang to make headway on the issue of the abduction victims, which were used to help train spies"; Reuters"Action on Macau Bank May Hit Sino - US Ties: Lawyers"NYT 17 Feb 06:-"Lawyers for a Macau bank accused of helping North Korea launder money have told US Treasury [that] action against the lender could affect US-China ties at a sensitive time for talks on North's nuclear programs... Treasury announcement sparked a run on Banco Delta Asia that saw more than a third of the bank's deposits, or $133m, withdrawn between 15 and 21 Sep 05. Macau government stepped in to take control of the bank and extend it a line of credit... Analysts say the accusations against Banco Delta Asia have dented North Korea's ability to do business abroad, with other financial institutions now wary of having North Korean clients"; AP"Japanese Police Raid Tokyo Trading Company"NYT 17 Feb 06:-"Japanese police raided a trading company in Tokyo suspected of illegally exporting equipment to North Korea that could be used to create biological weapons, police and news reports said. The company, Seishin Shoji, allegedly exported a freeze dryer that could be used to cultivate germs or other pathogens for possible weapons, Kyodo News reported, citing police. Seishin Shoji is suspected of shipping the equipment to North Korea through Taiwan in Sep 2002, without obtaining the government permission required under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law, Kyodo said"; AP"North Korean Cheerleaders Sent to Prison"NYT 17 Feb 06:-"Twenty-one members of North Korean cheering squads who traveled to South Korea for international sports events are being held in a prison camp for talking about what they saw in the South a news report said...In 2002, communist North Korea sent hundreds of female cheerleaders to the Asian Games in South Korea's Busan, where their tightly synchronized routines drew worldwide attention. North sent similar cheering squads to South Korea in 2003 and 2005. Female cheering squad apparently violated a pledge not to speak about what they saw in South Korea"; AP"Koreas to Hold High - Level Military Talks"NYT 20 Feb 06:-"Two Koreas will hold high-level military talks next week... General-level talks will be held 2-3 Mar at northern side of the truce village of Panmunjom... Koreas will discuss ways to prevent accidental clashes off peninsula's western coast and designating joint fishing areas"; Reuters"Korean Red Cross Talks to Focus on POWs, Abductees"NYT 20 Feb 06:-"South Korean Red Cross and government officials traveled to North Korea for talks on fate of South Korean prisoners of war and civilian abductees believed to be alive and held in North... Tangible progress remains elusive... Many in South, including Red Cross, believe more than 1,000 POWs and civilians taken after Korean War are held there... Generals' meeting in Mar will discuss measures to prevent naval clashes in Yellow Sea, including setting up joint fishing grounds, and other confidence-building measures"; Reuters"N.Korea Nuclear Talks Sought in March, April: Source"NYT 21 Feb 06:-"The six countries trying to end North Korea's nuclear programs are discussing possibly resuming talks in Mar or Apr, unnamed South Korean official said. North Korea, US and China have had several bilateral contacts to try to resolve dispute stemming from US crackdown... North Korea issued high-level statement criticizing US military cooperation with South Korea, saying it was part of a plan for an attack on the North... China...tried to mediate in the dispute over the financial crackdown... South Korean FM official said late Mar would be earliest possible time to resume talks if efforts to resolve financial dispute were successful... 'The timing of next round is not as important at this point as efforts to resolve the financial standoff', official said"; Reuters"S.Korea Pushing Pace to Resume North Nuclear Talks"NYT 22 Feb 06:-"South Korea's new chief nuclear envoy will soon travel to countries involved in talks... in intensifying effort to restart negotiations, FM [Bam Ki-moon] said... Another South Korean official said there may be fresh momentum between US and North Korea to return to talks, while top US negotiator pressed China and others to do more to bring North Koreans back to the table"; AP"U.N. Agency: North Korea Requesting Food"NYT 22 Feb 06:-"North Korea will formally ask UN World Food Program for aid for children and pregnant women, several months after communist nation demanded a halt to emergency food help... If request granted, 1.9m children and pregnant women will receive vitamin-enriched food for two years. Program also calls for helping local factories produce their own enriched porridge and noodles"; Reuters"S.Korean Lawmakers Give Details on North Fake Money"NYT 22 Feb 06:-"North Korea uses printing press in Pyongyang to counterfeit US dollars and then circulates them through state-run trading firm, South Korean lawmaker said, referring to samples he said he got from North. Another legislator said he had also obtained counterfeit US $100 notes through North Korean trading company officials, who he said were certain to be intelligence agents... Legislators were scheduled to disclose the samples and photographs at parliamentary question session. Center of North Korea's counterfeiting of US notes is a nondescript building in Pyongyang that also prints photographs of North Korean leader... Counterfeit US notes are then circulated through a state trading company... Said in parliament counterfeiting notes of quality acquired would be impossible without involvement of North Korean government. South Korean PM said Seoul had yet to see conclusive evidence that points to North Korean government involvement"; Reuters"Japan Issues Arrest Warrants for N.Korean Agents"NYT 23 Feb 06:-"Japan issued arrest warrants for two suspected North Korean kidnappers, latest step in a bitter, long-running row with North Korea over Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang decades ago, media reports said... Japanese authorities issued fresh arrest warrant for former North Korean agent on suspicion of kidnapping two Japanese nationals in 1978... Warrant also issued for suspect of having kidnapped two Japanese nationals in a separate 1978 incident"; AP"Koreas Conclude Red Cross Talks"NYT 23 Feb 06:-"Divided Koreas concluded Red Cross talks without a concrete agreement on how to address issue of South Korean prisoners of war and civilian abductees believed held in communist North. Sensitive issue has been the main sticking point since this week's talks opened... They agreed to continue talks on confirming the fate of separated family members and deal with issue of South Korean POWs and civilian abductees as part of those efforts... North Korea denies holding any war prisoners and says the civilians defected voluntarily... South Korea claimed a step forward, saying North at least agreed to deal with issue toward resolution... In this week's talks, however, South Korea sought North's consent to launch a separate project to determine fate of POWs and civilian abductees and allow them to reunite with relatives in the South. But North rejected the request. Another round of family reunions in Jun and two more rounds of 'virtual reunions' via video linkups in Jun and Aug... Since 2000, 12 rounds of reunions held, bringing together close to 12,000 family members for face-to-face meetings decades after they were separated by the war. Separately, three virtual reunions have been held via cross-border video linkups"; AP"U.S., North Korea to Hold Talks in N.Y."NYT 23 Feb 06:-"US and North Korean officials will meet next month in NYC to discuss a rift over Pyongyang's alleged counterfeiting of US dollars... US technical experts will brief a delegation from Pyongyang on US laws that were applied... US allegations of counterfeiting have not been endorsed by South Korea"; AP"U.N. Agency Offers N. Korea New Food Aid"NYT 23 Feb 06:-World Food Program has approved plan to resume food aid to hunger-stricken North Korea but it won't begin until regime allows more access to monitor where the aid goes, UN agency said. Two-year plan to feed 1.9m was approved by WFP's board in Rome. But donors rejected North's restrictions limiting agency to 10 foreign staff members and sharply reducing their ability to monitor aid distribution... In line with North's request for development aid, plan would provide rations to 'underemployed communities to build and rehabilitate agricultural and other community assets', WFP said"; Aaron L.Friedberg"Q&A: Only Continued Pressure, Combined With Inducements, Can"Council on Foreign Relations 23 Feb 06:-"East Asian expert who served as VP's deputy national security 2003-5, says North Korea has boycotted new talks... because of US program of cracking down on counterfeiting and other illicit activities. But [he] says such pressure is only way to hope for a breakthrough... 'I think we have to both talk and squeeze. We have to be able to do both simultaneously if we're going to have a chance of a peaceful resolution'. Expresses unhappiness with China's reluctance to crack down on North. [He says] China has increased aid and economic relations with North"; Norimitsu Onishi"Campaigning for Human Rights, and Fishing for Souls"NYT 24 Feb 06:-"After... converting to Christianity, Kim Yae Jin was locked up for four years in North Korea's infamous prison camp. He fled North a few years after his release and in 2001 found his way to South Korea, where he is a co-chairman of NK Gulag, a private group focusing on human rights in North. For Kim, while securing those rights is an important goal, it comes second to a far more consequential one: evengelizing in North Korea... South Korean government contends that it is putting a priority on Korean peninsula by refraining from spotlighting human rights violations by North Korean government, which regards such criticism as a threat to its hold on power. South Korea says it is promoting human rights in North by increasing economic ties and nudging it towards more openness. To South Korea, harsh talk on human rights is a cover for hard-liners here and in Bush administration to scuttle six-nation talks over nuclear crisis... Until start of its 'sunshine policy' of engagement in late 1990s, South Korean government highlighted North's human rights violations... Against this political backdrop, it is open secret that some North Korean defectors, and their backers, exaggerate their experiences in North Korea... Critics also say that some Christians... actually endangering lives of North Koreans through their evangelizing. [M]issionaries send North Koreans living in China back into North to proselytize secretly"; Reuters"Fate of Nuclear Talks in N.Korea Hands: Seoul Aide"NYT 25 Feb 06:-"Fate of talks on North Korea's nuclear programs depends on whether Pyongyang takes action on illicit activities that prompted a US crackdown, South Korean official was quoted as saying... North Korea knows what it is expected to do on charges raised by Washington that it is behind counterfeiting of US currency and money laundering, said chief national security adviser to South Korea's president. 'Six-party talks can go forward only if North takes the necessary action on currency counterfeiting"; Reuters "HK Link to Pyongyang Counterfeit US Bills: Report"NYT 26 Feb 06:-"US authorities are set to seize more than US$2.67 million from Hong Kong bank accounts linked to trade in North Korean counterfeit US notes and cigarette smuggling, South China Morning Post reported. Money is frozen in three accounts at branch of Chiyu Banking, a subsidiary of Bank of China Hong Kong... Funds are believed to be first known link between Hong Kong's open banking system and what US authorities fear is a growing underground trade in high quality 'supernotes', minted on North Korean state-run presses, report said"; Reuters"Face Forgotten as Korea's War - Torn Families Meet"NYT 27 Feb 06:-"Eighty families [were] picked to be reunited via a video link over two days starting [27 Feb]. The families were split in the turmoil when the two countries sealed their borders at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War... More than 100,000 families registered with Red Cross societies of South and North Korea, hoping to be reunited in person or by video link... Most of 125,000 South Koreans looking for family members in the North are aged 70 or older, and time is running out for many of them to see, perhaps for the last time, lost family... South Korean Unification Minister... said it was nearly impossible for those fortunate enough to have already met separated family members in person to see them again during their life-times, and said video reunions and exchanging letters could serve as alternatives. There have been 12 rounds of reunions in person for 2,400 families since they started in 2000... North Koreans rejected the South's proposal to begin exchanges of letters... In what was regarded as a minor breakthrough, the North agreed to look into the fate of South Korean prisoners of war and civilians believed to have been captured after the war and held in the North"; Reuters"Two Koreas Meet for Talks on Delayed Rail Link"NYT 27 Feb 06:-"Railway officials from the two Koreas held talks to try to put back on track a delayed project that would re-establish a rail link across world's Cold War fromtier. [R]ail would be a big step forward for political and commercial ties... It would also cut costs for South Korean firms manufacturing at an industrial park in the North. Track is already built... Two day meeting was focusing on planning for a test run in Mar and a formal start to operations soon after... Project remains unfinished and beyond schedule, in part because North's military has yet to give the go-ahead to run trains through the sensitive border zone... Railway, when completed, is expected to boost prospects for the project set up in Kaesong where South Korean firms operate factories using cheap North Korean labor to produce clothing, cosmetics containers and sports shoe parts"; AP"North Korea Urges U.S. to Lift Sanctions"NYT 28 Feb 06:-"North Korea urged US to lift financial sanctions over counterfeiting allegations, saying move would show whether Washington is willing to drop its hostile policy toward communist country, North's official news agency reported... US has...said sanctions have disrupted [North's] ability to make nuclear weapons. North Korean spokesman... accused US of preventing North from joining the international financial system... North Korea this month vowed to join international efforts to combat money laundering"; Reuters"US Not Certain North Korea has Nuclear Weapons"NYT 28 Feb 06:-"US cannot say for certain that North Korea possesses any nuclear weapons, but believes Pyongyang has continued to produce plutonium from its 5-megawatt Yongbyon reactor, top intelligence officials said. In a marked departure from precedent, US intelligence chief John Negroponte declined to estimate number of nuclear devices North Korea might have assembled, despite repeated questioning by Democrats at hearing by Senate Committee on Armed Services... 'But there's no question that there's a potential there for a number of weapons', Negroponte said... Analysts suggested Negroponte's openness on North Korea stemmed from a new intelligence emphasis on certainty following debacle over faulty prewar intelligence on Iraq... Pyongyang officially announced that it had nuclear arms a year ago, and private analysts since then have said its arsenal could contain up to 12 nuclear devices. But North has not produced tangible evidence of nuclear arms by testing a weapon... Director of Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency agreed that there was no proof Pyongyang possesses nuclear weapons but said country could soon have the missile capability to strike US"; AP"Koreas Open High - Level Military Talks"NYT 02 Mar 06:-"North Korea demanded an end to South Korea's military exercises with US, as high-level inter-Korean military talks got under way for the first time in nearly two years... Two-star generals from rival Koreas were leading this week's talks that opened at border truce village of Panmunjeom... Meeting was third of its kind and first since Jun 04. In their opening speech, South Korea proposed an agenda including seeking ways to prevent naval skirmishes along western sea border"; Reuters"Generals From Koreas Hold Talks to Ease Tensions"NYT 02 Mar 06:-"Efforts to reduce military tensions between North and South... have lagged behind improving political and economic ties in recent years. Generals discussed ways to ease tension along land and sea borders, establishing a joint fishing area near a disputed nautical border and military procedures involved in monitoring border crossings by rail... North and South Korean officials held talks earlier this week on completing rail links. Two sides could not reach an agreement on test runs and did not set a date for another meeting"; AP"Koreas Fail to Reach Military Agreement"NYT 03 Mar 06:-"South Korea rejected North Korea's demand that redraw their western sea border, ending two days of high-level military talks without agreement... However, South Korean general left open possibility that the two former battlefield foes could revisit the issue in the future when confidence-building and other measures are in place"; AP"Japan Wants N. Korean Agents Put on List"NYT 03 Mar 06:-"Japan has asked Interpol to put two elderly former North Korean spies on an international wanted list for their suspected involvement in kidnapping at least four Japanese citizens in 1970s, [Japanese] media reports said. Move was another step in the government's efforts to pressure North Korea into cooperating more fully in detailing what happened to the abducted Japanese... With public anger in Japan high, Japanese leaders have put the issue at the top of the agenda in recent rounds of talks with North Korea, and they rule out increased ties sought by the communist regime in Pyongyang until there is progress... The two men. who are both in their 70s and are believed to be in North Korea, are suspected of kidnapping two couples... separately from western Japan in 1978. North Korea returned all four to Japan in 2002"; AP"Japan, U.S. Finishing Plans for New Radar"NYT 03 Mar 06:-"Japanese and US military officials are finalizing plans to deploy a radar system for a missile shield at Japanese air force base in northern Japan, defense officials said... Tokyo and Washington have long worked on a joint missile defense system. Communist North Korea sent a ripple of shock across the region when it test-fired a missile over northern Japan in 1998"; AP"U.S., S. Korean Envoys Discuss N. Korea"NYT 05 Mar 06:-"Top US negotiator on North Korea's nuclear program met over weekend with his South Korean counterpart to discuss ways to resume stalled talks with communist nation... Seoul's new top nuclear negotiator warned that talks will have little meaning without progress on ending North's nuclear ambitions... US and North Korean officials prepare to meet in NYC [07 Mar] to discuss US allegations of North's involvement in counterfeiting"; AP"U.S. - India Nuke Deal May Hurt NKorea Talks"NYT 06 Mar 06:-"US deal offering India help with its civilian nuclear program could further stymie arms talks with North Korea,... experts say. Bush signed agreement with New Delhi to share nuclear know-how and fuel providing India allow international inspections of its nuclear reactors... However US Congress approval may be difficult because India hasn't signed Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty... North Korea withdrew from NPT in 2003... [India] deal will likely be another hindrance in the North Korea talks, experts said... 'The denuclearization of Korean Peninsula is a desirable goal, and I think that these developments make achieving that goal more difficult', [expert] said"; AP"Musical Casts Light on N. Korean Prisons"NYT 06 Mar 06:-"An unlikely subject under the theatrical spotlight: prison camps in communist North Korea... Show's theme is especially sensitive [in Seoul] because South Korea's government, seeking to reconcile with its longtime foe, has lately avoided talking about horrors of North Korean regime... 'Yoduk Story' offers a glimpse into a gulag which US State Department estimates holds up to 200,000 political prisoners"; Reuters"Japan Officials Raid N.Korean Freighter"NYT 07 Mar 06:-"Japanese police, coast guard and immigration officials raided a North Korean freighter, which media reports said had been involved in an illegal shipment of ingredients for sarin nerve gas to North Korea a decade ago. Raid comes at a time some ruling party politicians and activists have called for economic sanctions against Pyongyang for refusing to resolve a dispute over Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents decades ago"; Reuters"N.Korea Accuses US of Fabricating Information"NYT 07 Mar 06:-"North Korea accused US of fabricating information to link it with drug trafficking, but said it would do its part to stop drugs trade. Comments by North's FM spokesman come hours before a briefing in NYC by US Treasury officials for senior North Korean diplomat on measures imposed by Washington to combat Pyongyang's suspected illegal activities... North's KCNA news agency quoted its FM spokesman as saying US has 'fabricated misinformation' in 01 Mar report on international drug trade by linking North to narcotics production and trafficking"; AP"North Korea Refuses Return to Nuke Talks"NYT 07 Mar 06:-"North Korea reiterated its pledge not to return to nuclear talks after meeting with US officials about communist regime's alleged illicit financial activity, a top North Korean diplomat was quoted as saying. At meeting in NYC US emphasized that moves against a Macau bank where Pyongyang held accounts were part of regulatory moves 'to protect US financial system from abuse, and not a sanction on North Korea', according to US Treasury Department statement. 'Our position is consistent that (North Korea) cannot return to the talks in midst of continued pressure (from US)', director-general of North Korean FM's US affairs bureau said after the talks"; AP"Report: N. Korea Test - Fires Two Missiles"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"North Korea fired two surface-to-air missiles near its border with China and they apparently landed in North Korean territory, Japanese news agency reported. Kyodo News agency cited an 'Asian security source' as saying missiles were fired by mistake in direction of China during a military drill, and missiles appeared to have landed in North Korean territory. But the agency also cited a 'Western military source' as saying short-range missiles were test-fired in an eastern direction from North's eastern coast, toward the Sea of Japan... Agency said it couldn't immediately reconcile the conflicting reports... Japan's Defense Ministry refused to comment... Analysts say North Korea is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Alaska, Hawaii or perhaps other states on the West Coast"; Reuters"US Calls China Serious Rights Abuser Despite Reforms"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"...Elsewhere [,annual US] report said the communist government in North Korea had an 'extremely poor' rights record... North Korea...cited by State Department as clear example where 'countries in which power is concentrated in the hands of unaccountable rulers tend to be world's most systematic human rights violators'... No improvements were observed in North Korea, where a 'systematically repressive regime continued to control almost all aspects of citizens' lives, denying freedoms of speech, religion, the press, assembly, association and movement'"; AP "North Korean Missile Test Causes Concern"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"North Korea test-fired two short-range missiles [08 Mar] , unsettling reminder of reclusive communist regime's ability to cause instability in the region where a standoff persists over its nuclear program. Development underscored dangers posed by country's longer-range missiles and professed nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang shocked Tokyo and other nations when it test-fired a ballistic missile many times, including one launched into the Sea of Japan May 05. In 2003, North test-fired short-range land-to-ship missiles at least three times during heightened tensions over its nuclear program... [US] White House said [08 Mar] launches demonstrated importance of six-party negotiations aimed at resolving crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program... North Korea would be extremely hesitant to do anything to offend China, its last major benefactor, and type of missiles reportedly fired wouldn't pose much of a threat far beyond its borders... Commander of US military in South Korea, Army Gen Bell, said... North was 'preparing to field a new intermediate-range ballistic missile which could easily reach US facilities in Okinawa, Guam and possibly Alaska'... However, Bell noted North Koreans had done 'very little' in recent years on long-range ballistic missiles. Instead, he said, officials have seen increasing work on short-range missiles that could be used on Korean Peninsula. Besides producing a large number of weapons, Bell said North Korea also 'appears willing to sell to anyone'... Country isn't believed to have performed any nuclear tests. Putting a device on a missile is even more complicated, and there's no evidence North has done that either. Still, experts believe North has extracted enough plutonium... for at least a half-dozen nuclear weapons or more"; Reuters"N.Korea Conducted New Missile Tests: US"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"White House said North Korea fired two short-range missiles [08 Mar]... 'We have consistently pointed out that North Korea's missile program is a concern that poses a threat to the region and the larger international community', he said. Jack Pritchard of Korea Economic Institute said this was 'probably third known incident of a short-range missile being fired over last 18 months'. North Korea has abided by a 1999 moratorium on medium- and long-range missile tests"; AP"U.S. Annual Rights Report Criticizes Arab Allies"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"Study, published each year since 1977, offers a comprehensive analysis of all countries in the world except US. Introduction calls particular attention to six countries where restrictions on rights were said to be severe: China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, and Zimbabwe"; Reuters"Minister Denies Said Japan Might Need Nuclear Arms"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso denied [08 Mar] having said that Japan - the only nation to suffer an atomic bombing - should possess nuclear arms to counter North Korea. Without specifying the sources, weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun wrote that Aso made the remarks in a meeting with US VP Cheney in Dec. 'If North Korea carries on with its nuclear development, then Japan would have to have nuclear arms', the magazine quoted Aso as saying in the meeting which it said was held at Cheney's office in White House 02 Dec. Aso, a candidate to succeed Japanese PM,.. denied making the comments... Magazine also said Aso made similar remarks to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld the following day... Magazine said senior FM officials, who attended Aso's meetings in Washington, decided to treat the comments as though they were never made, and did not include them in reports sent back to the ministry in Tokyo... But faced with the threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the nuclear taboo is easing among the public, and more lawmakers now challenge the ban without receiving the disapproval they would have in the past"; Norimitsu Onishi"U.S. Confirms Test of Missiles Was Conducted by North Korea"NYT 08 Mar 06:-"North Korea reported to have test-fired two short-range missiles within its borders... Commander of US forces in South Korea,.. Gen Bell, told Senate Armed Forces committee hearing that North Korea had put on the back burner efforts to develop the kind of long-range intercontinental missiles that could reach US... 'There is no doubt in my mind that they have capability to begin more technological investigation and to begin a regimen to lead to testing and potentially to lead to fielding. But there's no evidence of it right now"; Reuters"No Security Threat in N.Korea Missile Test: Analysts"NYT 09 Mar 06:-"North Korea's test-firing of two short-range missiles was more about checking performance than rattling sabers during a stalemate in talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, analysts said... But analysts said the tests did not constitute a major threat to stability and if Pyongyang had wanted to send a strong signal it could have wheeled out far bigger missiles... North Korea fired the two short-range missiles from its east coast and they probably dropped into sea, about 100km (60 miles) away, South Korean daily Joong Ang Ilbo reported [08 Mar], citing a government source. Initial reports said the tests were over a shorter distance elsewhere and just on land. A senior Bush administration official said the two missiles did not leave North Korean territory... Proliferation experts believe North Korea is still some time away from building a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a missile. The accuracy of its mid-range missiles was also suspect while its long-range missiles are believed to be in development and not yet launched"; Joel Brinkley"U.S. Squeezes North Korea's Money Flow"NYT 09 Mar 06:-"Six months after the Bush administration blacklisted a bank in Macao accused of laundering money for the North Korean government, senior administration officials say the action has proved to be far more effective than anyone had dreamed. Banks around the world are limiting their dealings with North Korea, and the nation's leadership is complaining with a vigor unusual even for that government. 'It really struck a nerve', a senior US official said with a smile. It also has given new energy to those in the administration who have argued for years that the six-nation nuclear disarmament talks were a waste of time and that direct action was the only tactic that might force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program... Only now are officials saying that further law enforcement actions are planned, and their use has coalesced into a strategy... Several present and former [US] officials said Bush administration had concluded that six-nation talks... were unlikely to succeed unless they were accompanied by these direct, punitive actions. The strategy now, said a senior official,... is,' Squeeze them, but keep the negotiations going'. The talks would then serve as little more than a vehicle for accepting North Korea's capitulation, if the pressure from other actions leaves it no choice... White House has given Treasury and Justice departments full authority to take additional legal and financial actions against North Korea. This policy is not uniformly popular in State Department... Despite those arguments, through most of last year the administration worked assiduously to limit critical comments and actions that North Korea could seize on as excuses to boycott the negotiations"; AP"U.S., South Korea Plan Joint Exercises"NYT 10 Mar 06:-"US and South Korea plan to conduct annual joint military exercises this month, US military command said... Exercises will run for a week starting 25 Mar [and] are designed to improve US and South Korean forces' defense capabilities"; Reuters"US Announces Military Drills That Pyongyang Hates"NYT 10 Mar 06:-"US and South Korean troops will stage a major joint exercise,.. annual drills that Pyongyang has in past criticized as a dry run for an invasion. [In fact,] they are designed to coordinate defenses of the southern half of the peninsula"; AP"N.Korea Delays Cabinet Talks With South"NYT 11 Mar 06:-"North Korea postponed high-level talks with South Korea this month in anger over US military exercises in the region and vowed to strengthen its peaceful nuclear activity... North's Cabinet counselor said South Korean-US joint military exercises cannot be justified, and made it impossible to hold 18th round of the talks this month in Pyongyang. North Korea proposed to convene the talks in Apr, KCNA said... North Korea also vowed to step up its peaceful nuclear activities and urged US to change its nuclear policy toward the communist country, KCNA said in separate commentary. 'US should recognize the right of all countries to use nuclear technology for a peaceful purpose', KCNA said in a commentary. North accused US of double standards over the nuclear issue and insisted that it be treated the same as nuclear powers that have not signed NPT. Pyongyang's demand came a week after President Bush signed an agreement to provide India with US nuclear know-how and atomic fuel in exchange for India opening some of its atomic reactors to international inspections. India has not signed NPT"; Reuters"Russia Envoy Urges US - N.Korea Flexibility"NYT 13 Mar 06:-"A top Russian diplomat urged US and North Korea to show flexibility to resolve their row over US suspicions of North copying its currency, and get talks on its nuclear programs back on track... Russia's amb to Seoul said it was good sign that US Treasury officials had briefed North Korean officials last week in NYC about financial measures... 'I think it will be good if there is more flexibility on both sides', he said. He also said Russia was ready to discuss supplying electricity to impoverished North once the six parties involved in talks could agree on a plan to implement an agreement on ending North's nuclear plans... North repeated its charge that counterfeiting issue was fabrication cooked up by Washington, and insisted that nuclear talks could not go ahead until Washington dropped what Pyongyang saw as its hostile policy"; AP"N.Korea Blames U.S. for Stalled Nuke Talks"NYT 13 Mar 06:-"North Korea [13 Mar] accused US of obstructing nuclear disarmament talks by alleging communist regime involved in counterfeiting and drug trafficking... 'Every time there are signs of progress at six-party talks, US has created obstacles - with fabricated problems of human rights, currency counterfeiting and drug trafficking', [North's communist party] newspaper said. 'It is clear that... in reality it has no interest' in resolving nuclear issue, it said"; AP"South Korea Opens Immigration Checkpoints"NYT 15 Mar 06:-"South Korea formally opened new immigration checkpoints [15 Mar] for travelers crossing the heavily fortified border with North Korea, symbolizing Seoul's hopes for boosting exchanges with its longtime communist foe. Checkpoint... south of frontier is a gateway to one of the two roads and adjacent railways that divided Koreas have reconnected since their leaders held summit in 2000. Second immigration point to east connects with a tourist spot in North Korea... Last year, more than 400,000 people traveled on inter-Korean roads, nearly a tenfold increase from 2003... Most were tourists traveling to North's resort or officials going to Kaesong industrial complex"; AP"South Korea's new point man on North Korea said US is stepping up engagement with Pyongyang even as it cracks down on North's alleged money laundering and poor human rights record... 'US now has various thoughts when looking at North Korea. It wants to look at North from a little wider perspective', Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok told a forum in Seoul. 'This can, from some aspects, be a source of challenges, but also a source of opportunity'"; AP"Iran, N.Korea Nukes Cause 'Grave Concern'"NYT 18 Mar 06:-"In a joint statement following first-ever three-way security talks, [US, Japan and Australia] said North Korea should unconditionally and immediately return to six-party nuclear talks... Joint statement made scant reference to China, merely welcoming the country's 'constructive engagement in the region'"; Reuters"Five N.Koreans Make Rare Defection to South"NYT 19 Mar 06:-"Five North Koreans defected to South Korea on a small fishing boat found adrift on southern side of heavily guarded nautical border, army spokesman said. Defectors apparently a family of four... and one other person close to the family... Small vessel had struck a rock and drifted for two days before being spotted by South Korean vessels off east coast of peninsula... Defections by sea from North are rare because potential defectors run high risk of being spotted, and then being taken into custody or attacked by North Korean naval vessels. Defections by land to South are also rare because hundreds of thousands of troops.,. numerous land mine fields, as well as razor wire. Most North Koreans who defect typically cross into China... About 1,380 North Koreans defected to the South last year compared with 1,894 in 2004 and 1,139 in 2003"; Reuters"Separated Korean Families Shed Tears at Reunion"NYT 20 Mar 06:-"Korean families, separated for more than half a century on divided peninsula, shared tears and embraces at start of a two-pronged reunion. North and South Korea will hold two sets of reunions this week of families separated by... Korean War... Reunions that bring together parents and children, brothers and sisters, are usually heart-wrenching affairs, illustrating the pain of hundreds of thousands of families torn apart during war... In previous 12 rounds, more than 13,000 people from both sides of the peninsula have been brought together in the meetings arranged by their Red Cross societies"; AP"N. Korea Rips Bush for 'Evil' Repetition"NYT 20 Mar 06:-"North Korea berated President Bush for repeating his earlier description of communist state as part of an 'axis of evil', saying it shows US intends to attack it... North Korea's communist party newspaper responded by calling US the 'ringleader of evil', saying its war on terror had resulted in massacres of people... 'Bush repeating the axis of evil remarks is nothing but an open proclamation that US imperialists consider us a target of military attack, not a dialogue partner', it said. North Korea often uses harsh language to vilify US and its leaders, but doesn't tolerate criticism from Washington"; AP"N. Korea Suggests It Can Strike U.S. First"NYT 21 Mar 06:-"North Korea suggested it had the ability to launch a pre-emptive attack on US, according to North's official news agency. FM spokesman said North had built atomic weapons to counter US nuclear threat. 'As we declared, our strong revolutionary might put in place all measures to counter possible US pre-emptive strike', spokesman said, according to KCNA. 'Pre-emptive strike is not monopoly of US'. Last week communist country warned that it had the right to launch a pre-emptive strike, saying it would strengthen its war footing before joint South Korea-US military exercises scheduled... Spokesman also said it would be a 'wise' step for US to cooperate on nuclear issues with North in the same way it does with India"; Reuters"N.Korea Parliament to Meet Amid Nuclear Crisis"NYT 21 Mar 06:-"North Korea's parliament will meet next month, Pyongyang said, offering a glimpse into policy priorities of the secretive state amid a stand-off with regional powers over its nuclear arms program. Last year's meeting of Supreme People's Assembly focused on ways to produce more food... This year's meeting will start 11 Apr... Among areas of interest for foreign experts/officials will be importance given to stalled talks,.. measures to revitalize its anaemic economy and any talk of succession to leader Kim Jong-il... Main focus of parliament meeting is usually budgetary matters, and measures brought before it are typically approved by unanimous vote and to enthusiastic applause of members"; Reuters"N.Korean Defector Says Disabled Newborns Are Killed"NYT 22 Mar 06:-"North Korea has no people with physical disabilities because they are killed almost as soon as they are born, a physician who defected from communist state said. [Man] who fled to South told a forum of rights activists that practice of killing newborns was widespread... He said babies born with physical disabilities were killed in infancy in hospitals or in homes and were quickly buried. Practice is encouraged by the state, he said, as a way of purifying the masses and eliminating people who might be considered 'different'... South Korean government has refused to join international condemnation of human rights abuses in North out of concern that such a move could rattle ties with Pyongyang... North has called itself a people's paradise and said criticism of its human rights was motivated by a goal of toppling leadership of Kim Jong-il"; AP"North Korea Bristles at U.S. - South Drills"NYT 23 Mar 06:-"North Korea warned it will react to upcoming joint US-South Korean joint military exercises with an unspecified 'strong measure of self-defense', condemning the drill as saber-rattling for a pre-emptive nuclear attack on the North... 'US decision to let carrier Abraham Lincoln and its task flotilla participate in exercises goes to clearly indicate what reckless and dangerous phase US moves for a pre-emptive attack have reached', spokesman said"; Reuters"Australia Bombs Impounded N - Korean Drug Ship"NYT 23 Mar 06:-"Two Australian fighter jets bombed and sank an impounded North Korean cargo ship in what FM Downer said was a strong message to Pyongyang about its involvement in drug running. The 4,000-tonne ship had been impounded since 2003, when it led Australian navy on a 1,100 km chase off the south-eastern coast after being spotted unloading part of a 150kg (330lb) shipment of heroin at a scheduled beach... Downer said heroin, worth about A$160m ($115m), would have provided four million hits of heroin on Australian streets. He said Australia remained concerned that North Korean government was involved in smuggling operation to help support its failing economy"; AP"Australia Uses Fighter to Sink Drug Ship" NYT 23 Mar 06:-"North Korean cargo ship seized after being used to smuggle heroin into Australia was sunk when Australian air force used vessel for target practice... It had anchored [in 2003] off south-western Victoria state while drug haul was carried ashore by dinghy... Not immediately clear if North Koreans have been deported";