2003.08.27

Weak Yen Policy (New York Times)   More on this topic later... 2003.08.27

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DPRK: ''We have no nukes''   According to an ITAR-Tass dispatch, DPRK denies it has any nuclear weapons. Also, the Russians are painting the Americans as the hinderers at the first day of discussions. 2003.08.27

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Beijing-DPRK Talks Beijing Summit - Leaks. North Korea Summit Update :: Agonist Exclusive The US will tell North Korea they will not invade but will not broach a formal non-aggression agreement until NK begins to comply with a nuclear disarmament and verification regime. This was said at a meeting between Japan, The US and South Korea where the three sides hoped to be able to come to a joint position. A joint position was not reached however, apparently due to South Korean dissent. Japan has scheduled a bilateral sidebar with North Korea for tomorrow in a surprising and positive development. Today�fs leaks are quite odd, one would infer that since Japan and the US seem to agree on a more aggressive set of demands regarding North Korean disarmament and Seoul is more eager to find reconciliation that is the core of the disagreement. I would also imagine the non-aggression offer is relatively weak given the lack of disagreement from Tokyo. Japan Times Japan Times Bloomberg Article Source Excerpts, More Stories, Links & Discussion Here <<<<< [The Agonist] 2003.08.27

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Japan to DPRK: No Nukes Please (Reuters)   A minor incident at the DMZ today when a DPRK "misfire" broke a window in South Korea. Maybe more than a broken window soon depending on how the Beijing talks go. 2003.08.27

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Koizumi vs. Three Losers (Bloomberg)   We have mentioned Kamei before in this space. If Japan were a true democracy or if it had any tradition of investigative reporting this fellow might be rotting in a jail cell by now. They don't get much more old style LDP than Kamei.  Anyway, those who are blatant enough about their greed do seem to get their just desserts eventually, even in Japan. At least Shin Kanemura was content to stand off-stage and pull the strings. Kamei wants to be pull his own strings, so to speak. Koizumi may be independent (free of any LDP faction) but that does not mean he does not have his own tough guys who can do some dirty work. Nippon Goro Goro stands by its prediction that Koizumi will get re-elected, although Kamei's strong verbal attacks and quest for power are worrying. Anyone in the know would rather have Shintaro Ishihara as premier than someone of Kamei's ilk.   2003.08.27

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Beijing-DPRK talks (Japan Times)   Expectations are very low for the Beijing talks. However, for the U-S hawks it is a win-win situation so to speak. If the North Koreans budge, then that is wonderful. If they do not then it justifies the United States (and Japan) taking more definitive action against Pyongyang in the future. 2003.08.27

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