Wednesday, February 11, 2004
KOREA NEWS ROUND-UP
North Korea denies receiving nuclear-weapons technology from Pakistan. (see here for more)
Despite American pressure, Pakistan’s President Musharraf is unlikely to press the matter much further:
Chun Doo Hwan back in the spotlight (and perhaps back on the hot seat)?
In other corruption-related news, the brother-in-law of President Roh Moo-hyun has become the subject of an “investigation.”
Roh also cleaned house, replacing six senior aides:
ROK ambassador to the U.S. Han Song-ju declares that the DPRK's uranium enrichment program must be on the table in upcoming talks.
In North Korea, history wars and Japan bashing continues apace:
North Korea denies receiving nuclear-weapons technology from Pakistan. (see here for more)
North Korea, too, has denied the admission by Khan that he sold nuclear-weapons technology to the state. A statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesman described the claim as "false propaganda" spread by the United States, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. The spokesman said that the "US smear campaign" justified Pyongyang's moves "to build [a] nuclear deterrent force". It was North Korea's first official response to the Pakistani disclosures. The denial comes just weeks before new six-way talks on Pyongyang's nuclear-weapons program are to begin in Beijing on February 25.
Despite American pressure, Pakistan’s President Musharraf is unlikely to press the matter much further:
"Musharraf is in a bind. On one hand, it is very unlikely that A Q Khan carried out these activities over the last 15 years without senior members of the Pakistani military and the intelligence service being aware of it, although they might not have known about every detail," Samore said.
He continued: "But, on the other hand, if Musharraf conducts a full investigation, he is very likely to create domestic political problems for himself - not only because of A Q Khan's popularity but also because Musharraf would be forced to investigate all of his predecessors as army chief of staff, which is likely to cause trouble in the Pakistani army, and that is Musharraf's principal power base."
Chun Doo Hwan back in the spotlight (and perhaps back on the hot seat)?
With prosecutors determining that some of the "mystery funds" administered by Chun Jae-yong, the second son of former President Chun Doo-hwan, were actually illegal funds belonging to his father, the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office is considering plans to directly summon the ex-President for investigation. An official with the prosecution said, "We will actively consider calling Mr. Chun in for investigation during the middle of next week."
Prosecutors determined Tuesday that the "mystery funds" administered by Chun Jae-yong totaled W16.75 billion, W7.35 billion of which came from a secret fund that was managed by a Mr. Kim who worked for the presidential security office in April 1987, while the elder Chun was in office.
In other corruption-related news, the brother-in-law of President Roh Moo-hyun has become the subject of an “investigation.”
Prosecutor General Song Gwang-soo said Wednesday that prosecutors would start a full investigation into the private fund collection scandal of Min Kyung-chan, President Roh’s in-law, if it is handed over to the prosecution.
During the "Truth-Finding Hearing on Illegal Presidential Campaign Funds," conducted by the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, Song said that he and prosecutors would thoroughly investigate the scandal without any presumption and uncover the entire truth. He said this as lawmakers from the opposition parties said that the special investigation division of the National Police Agency, which receives its orders from Cheong Wa Dae, has been suspiciously trying to minimize the scandal.
Roh also cleaned house, replacing six senior aides:
President Roh Moo-hyun replaced six senior government officials yesterday, including Deputy Finance Minister Kim Jin-pyo, who has been the country's chief economic architect in the past year. Mr. Kim is stepping down in the widely-held expectation that he will run for an Assembly seat on the Our Open Party ticket in the April 15 elections.
Mr. Kim's replacement is Lee Hun-jai, 60, who headed the Financial Supervisory Service during the 1997-1998 financial crisis.
ROK ambassador to the U.S. Han Song-ju declares that the DPRK's uranium enrichment program must be on the table in upcoming talks.
North Korea must be prepared to discuss its uranium-based nuclear arms program in negotiations this month with the United States and neighboring countries, South Korea's ambassador to Washington said on Wednesday.
Ambassador Han Sung-joo told reporters in Seoul that the confession by Pakistan's top nuclear scientist that he had sold nuclear arms technology to Pyongyang had ``further confirmed'' the existence of the North's highly enriched uranium program.
In North Korea, history wars and Japan bashing continues apace:
The crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists against humanity can never be concealed nor be negated.
It is the legal and moral responsibility of Japan and the unanimous demand of the international community for Japan to frankly admit and apologize for and repent of its past crimes.
If Japan makes a mockery of the history by shamelessly working to tamper with it and inventing lies in a bid to evade its responsibility, it will add to its hideous crimes and will not be able to shake itself of the ill-fame of being a "war criminal state."
