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