BRING BEEF, NOT CELL PHONES: CHINESE JOURNALISTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 015431

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2031
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI CH KN
SUBJECT: BRING BEEF, NOT CELL PHONES: CHINESE JOURNALISTS
TO VISIT DPRK

REF: BEIJING 14218

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Daniel L. Shields. Reasons
1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) The All China Journalists' Association is
organizing a visit to North Korea for a group of six
senior editors from media outlets such as Party
mouthpieces Guangming Daily and the official Xinhua
wire service, said Li Tao (protect),a professor at
the Tsinghua University School of Journalism and
Communications who has strong connections to the
Government. Li will be going on the July 31-August 12
trip, which is part of a regular media exchange
between China and North Korea, he said. The visit was
originally scheduled for July 20-August 1 but was
delayed because of the controversy surrounding the
recent missile tests.


2. (C) Li said the group will meet with North Korean
media representatives and will also have a session
with high-level officials, possibly including the
"third-ranking member" in the DPRK Government. (Note:
It was unclear who he meant, but it is possible the
group could be seeing Supreme People's Assembly
Chairman Yang Hyong-sop, who recently traveled to
Beijing and met with President Hu Jintao.) In a
special pre-trip briefing with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Chinese diplomats suggested that in meetings
with DPRK officials Li ask a) why there were seven
missiles launched in the tests -- "why so many?" Li
said -- and b) what it would take to get the North
back to the Six-Party Talks.


3. (C) No laptops or cell phones will be allowed on
the journey, Li said, adding that cameras are
acceptable "but ACJA told us we have to be careful
what we shoot." In fact, ACJA is preparing a special
list of do's and don'ts for the travelers. Li related
that ACJA has recommended the delegation bring plenty
of gifts. For his part, Li said he plans to spend
about RMB 1,000 (USD 125) on presents, the centerpiece
being beef. The media delegation will travel to
Pyongyang and to the DMZ, Li related, but the rest of
the itinerary is as yet unknown.


4. (C) In October, a group of DPRK journalists will
come to China to complete the second half of the
exchange. Li said Chinese authorities will allow the
North Koreans to bring laptops and cell phones.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) We do not expect any hard-hitting reporting
about North Korean social, economic or political
conditions to appear in the Chinese press as a result
of this trip. Our contacts have told us that the
Propaganda Department has banned commentary on DPRK
issues in the wake of the missile launches and that
censors normally forbid critical pieces about the
North Korean regime even during less sensitive times
(reftel). In this context, this particular delegation
represents China's most staid media institutions and
is not likely to push the envelope.
RANDT