MEDIA REACTION: DPRK

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 004146

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DPRK



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage December 19 on Taiwan's new regulations on international
air tickets. The issue is that abbreviations, codes, and
information regarding weight allowances on international tickets are
hard to understand. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration has
therefore summoned airlines for a meeting, and they reached an
agreement to add Chinese-language explanations to these tickets
starting July 2007. In terms of editorials and commentaries,
Commentator Antonio Chiang opined in the mass-circulation "Apple
Daily" that the Six-Party Talks are never-ending but in vain.
Chiang elaborated that this is because the Bush administration has
become a lame duck, and it cannot deal with the nuclear issue in
Iran and on the Korean Peninsula at the same time. Chiang suggested
that the United States allow all countries in East Asia to join the
nuclear club [in order to solve the DPRK issue]. End summary.

A) "Never Ending Talk"

Commentator Antonio Chiang opined in the mass-circulation "Apple
Daily" [circulation: 500,000] that (12/19):

"... The United States originally took a strong position toward Iraq
in terms of the development of nuclear weapons, but now it can do
almost nothing. In order to improve the situation in Iraq, some
have proposed that the United States should improve relations with
Iran, or even cooperate with Iran. The Bush administration has
become a lame duck, and it cannot deal with the nuclear issue in
Iran and on the Korean Peninsula at the same time.

"Although China and South Korea do not hope that North Korea
develops nuclear weapons, they are more worried about the disaster
that will happen after the collapse of the North Korean regime.
Hence, China and South Korea can only persuade North Korea
indirectly, and the international pressure has not really pressured
North Korea.

"Several U.S. experts consider that the United States cannot control
this situation [of developing nuclear weapons] even if it wants to.
Why not just let China and South Korea face directly the
consequences of nuclear weapons [development] in North Korea? Why
not just let Japan, South Korea, or even Taiwan develop nuclear
arms, and let them all join the nuclear club?"

WANG