Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SEOUL2279
2008-11-26 07:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
PRESS BULLETIN - November 26, 2008
how-toO 260732Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2442 USDOC WASHDC 7832 DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC CIA WASHINGTON DC//DDI/OEA// USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// SECDEF WASHINGTON DC JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC DIA WASHINGTON DC//DB-Z//
UNCLAS SEOUL 002279
DEPT FOR EAP/K, EAP/PD, INR/EAP/K AND INR/IL/P
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE
USDOC FOR 4430/IEP/OPB/EAP/WGOLICKE
STATE PASS USDA ELECTRONICALLY FOR FAS/ITP
STATE PASS DOL/ILAB SUDHA HALEY
STATE PASS USTR FOR IVES/WEISEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US
SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - November 26, 2008
Features
UNCLAS SEOUL 002279
DEPT FOR EAP/K, EAP/PD, INR/EAP/K AND INR/IL/P
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE
USDOC FOR 4430/IEP/OPB/EAP/WGOLICKE
STATE PASS USDA ELECTRONICALLY FOR FAS/ITP
STATE PASS DOL/ILAB SUDHA HALEY
STATE PASS USTR FOR IVES/WEISEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US
SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - November 26, 2008
Features
1. The ROK and the U.S. Agree to Transform Cash-based Financial
Contribution for USFK Upkeep to a Goods Provision
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Page 8)
2. 37% of ROK Lawmakers: "The KORUS FTA Would be Revised"
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Pages 1 and 6)
Top Headlines
Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs
Elder Brother of Former President Roh Moo-hyun Suspected of
Receiving 1 Billion Won from Former CEO of Sejong Capital
in Return for Influencing Sale of Sejong Securities
to Nonghyup in 2006
JoongAng Ilbo
A Former Blue House Staff Member during the Roh Moo-hyun
Administration Allegedly Managed 3 Billion Won Used for Bribery in
Connection with Sale of Sejong Securities
to Nonghyup
Dong-a Ilbo
National Tax Service Asks Prosecution to Investigate
Park Yeon-cha, Chairman of Taekwang Industrial
and Supporter of Former President Roh,
on Suspicion of Tax Evasion
Hankyoreh Shinmun
ROKG Considers Injecting Public Funds into Banks
Segye Ilbo
U.S. Announces $800 Billion in New Lending Programs
to Ease Credit
Seoul Shinmun
Prosecutors to Summon Former President Roh's Elder Brother
Domestic Developments
1. According to the Korea Chain Stores Association, Korea's leading
discount stores - Lotte Mart, E-Mart and Homeplus - will resume
sales of U.S. beef starting tomorrow because they judged that
negative public sentiment about U.S. beef has subsided and that
there is no reason to deny customers the choice to buy inexpensive
U.S. beef as the real economy is suffering and commodity prices are
going up. The three big retailers stopped selling U.S. beef in
October of last year when bone fragments were found in some U.S.
beef cuts. (All)
2. According to a Nov. 19-25 opinion survey, 37 percent of 195 ROK
lawmakers polled expected that the KORUS FTA would be revised.
(Dong-a)
3. U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens, in a Nov. 25
meeting with main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers, said that
the first task for the U.S. and the ROK governments is to pave the
way for the KORUS FTA. (Dong-a)
4. According to a military source, the ROK and the U.S. have agreed
to jointly develop the Aerial Weapon Scoring System (AWSS),an
unmanned reconnaissance warning plane, to counter the threat of
North Korea's long-range artillery. (JoongAng, Dong-a)
5. It was learned yesterday that the ROK and the U.S. have reached a
tentative agreement to transform the current cash-based payment for
the ROK's contribution to the upkeep of USFK to a goods provision
gradually over the next three years. (Dong-a)
International News
1. According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency, North Korean
leader Kim Jong-il has visited machinery and cosmetics companies in
Shinuiju, a border town with China, in his second public appearance
in eight days. The North Korean media did not reveal the exact date
of the visit but released photos of Kim visiting the companies.
(JoongAng, Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, DailyNK)
2. Kim's visit to the companies in Shinuiju, North Pyongan Province,
is the first such visit outside of Pyongyang after a series of
public appearances the reclusive leader made in recent months, and
seems intended to show Kim's improved state of health. (JoongAng,
Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye) Furthermore, the fact that the
North Korean leader visited the North's border town of Shinuiju
raises speculation that North Korea might choose economic
cooperation with China over the Kaesong Industrial Complex with the
ROK. (JoongAng)
Media Analysis
North Korea
Most of the ROK media gave prominent attention to a Nov. 25 report
by the (North) Korean Central News Agency saying that North Korea
leader Kim Jong-il has visited machinery and cosmetics companies in
Shinuiju, a border town with China, in his second public appearance
in eight days. The ROK media reported that the North Korean media
did not reveal the exact date of the visit but released photos of
Kim visiting the companies. In particular, most newspapers noted
that Kim's visit to the companies in Shinuiju, North Pyongan
Province, is the first such visit outside of Pyongyang after a
series of public appearances the reclusive leader made in recent
months, and commented that the visit might be intended to show Kim's
improved state of health. In particular, right-of-center JoongAng
Ilbo took note of the fact that the release of Kim's photos came
just a day after North Korea's announcement that it would end daily
cross-border train service and tours of Kaesong city, and said that
this might suggest that the North's recent hard-line measures
against the ROK were orchestrated by leader Kim Jong-il. JoongAng
also speculated that the North Korean leader's visit to the border
town of Shinuiju might indicate that Pyongyang could choose economic
cooperation with China over the Kaesong Industrial Complex with the
ROK.
Features
The ROK and the U.S. Agree to Transform Cash-based Financial
Contribution for USFK Upkeep to a Goods Provision
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Page 8)
By Reporter Cho Soo-jin
It has been reported that the ROK and the U.S. have reached a
provisional agreement that they will incrementally modify by 2011
the method of Seoul's financial contribution for maintaining U.S.
troops in the ROK.
The conversion into a goods provision will be made step by step over
the next three years, and the two sides also agreed on the rate of
switchover for each year.
An ROKG source said on November 25, "Realistically, it is not easy
to make the transition happen at once given the long practice of
cash payment. We will make the transition step by step and as
swiftly as possible."
The ROKG plans to sign the deal with the U.S. and place its share of
defense costs for next year (about 760 billion won) under
consideration in the National Assembly for the budget deliberation
by next week.
At the fifth round of the high-level defense cost-sharing talks in
Hawaii on November 20, local time, the ROK and the U.S. tentatively
agreed to the 8th Special Measurement Agreement under which, in
addition to the transition, the U.S. will be allowed to divert the
defense fund to relocate the 2nd Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek.
Features
37% of ROK Lawmakers: "The KORUS FTA Would be Revised"
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Pages 1 and 6)
By Reporters Kim Seung-ryeon, Park Jeong-hun, Goh Gi-jeong and Gil
Jin-gyun
Dong-a Ilbo conducted an opinion survey of 195 lawmakers on November
19-25. The respondents include lawmakers from the ruling Grand
National Party (129),the opposition Democratic Party (50) and the
Liberty Forward Party (5)
1. Are you in favor of the ROK-U.S. FTA?
Yes 87.7%
(96.9%, 70% and 87.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents
respectively)
No 9.7%
(2.3%, 22% and 12.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents
respectively)
Other 2.6%
2. When do you think that the ratification of the ROK-U.S. FTA
should be handled?
In a regular session before the U.S.'s demand for renegotiation
52.8%
(78.3%, 2% and 12.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents
respectively)
After the U.S.'s demand for renegotiation 38.5% (14.7%, 88% and
75.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents respectively)
To be handled as a long-term task 4.1%
(10% and 12.5% of the DP and LFP respondents respectively)
Other 4.6%
2-1. If you chose "a" in Question 2, please describe the reason.
A renegotiation would hurt national interests
The ROK needs to express its will by ratifying the ROK-U.S. FTA
The ROK needs to prevent the U.S. from making demands that are
disadvantageous to the ROK
2-2. If you did not choose "a" in Question 2, please describe the
reason.
The U.S.'s demand for renegotiation is an established fact
Measures are lacking for those sectors that would be hurt by the
ROK-U.S. FTA
It would be better for the ROK-U.S. alliance (GNP respondents)
Due to the ratification issue, other pending issues might not be
handled in a timely manner (GNP respondents)
3. Is there any possibility that the ruling party will ram through
the ratification? (this question is only for GNP lawmakers)
a. The ruling party will try hard to reach an agreement with the
opposition parties, but if necessary, it will ram through the
ratification 63.6%
b. It will handle the issue, excluding the opposition parties
18.6%
c. The issue cannot be handled if the opposition parties oppose
11.6%
d. Other 6.2%
3-1. If you chose "a" or "b" in Question 3, please describe the
reason.
The ROK-U.S. FTA is likely to be revised after the inauguration of
the Obama administration (38.2% of the GNP respondents)
4. What measures would you come up with if the U.S. demands a
renegotiation or additional negotiation of the ROK-U.S. FTA?
Concession in the automotive sector 26.7%
(27.9% and 32% of the GNP and DP respondents respectively)
Concession in other sectors 10.3%
Rejecting the demand 44.6%
(48.1% and 26% of the GNP and DP respondents respectively)
Other 18.4%
Note: It means that 37 percent of those polled expect that the
ROK-U.S. FTA would be ratified both in the ROK National Assembly and
the U.S. Congress after it is revised (38.2% and 44% of the GNP and
DP respondents respectively)
5. What would you suggest as complementary measures to the ROK-U.S.
FTA?
- Complementary measures are needed for the sectors with poor global
competitiveness including the financial sector (43.4% of GNP
respondents)
- Agricultural measures are needed (38% and 30% of the GNP and DP
respondents respectively)
Stephens
DEPT FOR EAP/K, EAP/PD, INR/EAP/K AND INR/IL/P
TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE
USDOC FOR 4430/IEP/OPB/EAP/WGOLICKE
STATE PASS USDA ELECTRONICALLY FOR FAS/ITP
STATE PASS DOL/ILAB SUDHA HALEY
STATE PASS USTR FOR IVES/WEISEL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US
SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - November 26, 2008
Features
1. The ROK and the U.S. Agree to Transform Cash-based Financial
Contribution for USFK Upkeep to a Goods Provision
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Page 8)
2. 37% of ROK Lawmakers: "The KORUS FTA Would be Revised"
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Pages 1 and 6)
Top Headlines
Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs
Elder Brother of Former President Roh Moo-hyun Suspected of
Receiving 1 Billion Won from Former CEO of Sejong Capital
in Return for Influencing Sale of Sejong Securities
to Nonghyup in 2006
JoongAng Ilbo
A Former Blue House Staff Member during the Roh Moo-hyun
Administration Allegedly Managed 3 Billion Won Used for Bribery in
Connection with Sale of Sejong Securities
to Nonghyup
Dong-a Ilbo
National Tax Service Asks Prosecution to Investigate
Park Yeon-cha, Chairman of Taekwang Industrial
and Supporter of Former President Roh,
on Suspicion of Tax Evasion
Hankyoreh Shinmun
ROKG Considers Injecting Public Funds into Banks
Segye Ilbo
U.S. Announces $800 Billion in New Lending Programs
to Ease Credit
Seoul Shinmun
Prosecutors to Summon Former President Roh's Elder Brother
Domestic Developments
1. According to the Korea Chain Stores Association, Korea's leading
discount stores - Lotte Mart, E-Mart and Homeplus - will resume
sales of U.S. beef starting tomorrow because they judged that
negative public sentiment about U.S. beef has subsided and that
there is no reason to deny customers the choice to buy inexpensive
U.S. beef as the real economy is suffering and commodity prices are
going up. The three big retailers stopped selling U.S. beef in
October of last year when bone fragments were found in some U.S.
beef cuts. (All)
2. According to a Nov. 19-25 opinion survey, 37 percent of 195 ROK
lawmakers polled expected that the KORUS FTA would be revised.
(Dong-a)
3. U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens, in a Nov. 25
meeting with main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers, said that
the first task for the U.S. and the ROK governments is to pave the
way for the KORUS FTA. (Dong-a)
4. According to a military source, the ROK and the U.S. have agreed
to jointly develop the Aerial Weapon Scoring System (AWSS),an
unmanned reconnaissance warning plane, to counter the threat of
North Korea's long-range artillery. (JoongAng, Dong-a)
5. It was learned yesterday that the ROK and the U.S. have reached a
tentative agreement to transform the current cash-based payment for
the ROK's contribution to the upkeep of USFK to a goods provision
gradually over the next three years. (Dong-a)
International News
1. According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency, North Korean
leader Kim Jong-il has visited machinery and cosmetics companies in
Shinuiju, a border town with China, in his second public appearance
in eight days. The North Korean media did not reveal the exact date
of the visit but released photos of Kim visiting the companies.
(JoongAng, Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, DailyNK)
2. Kim's visit to the companies in Shinuiju, North Pyongan Province,
is the first such visit outside of Pyongyang after a series of
public appearances the reclusive leader made in recent months, and
seems intended to show Kim's improved state of health. (JoongAng,
Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye) Furthermore, the fact that the
North Korean leader visited the North's border town of Shinuiju
raises speculation that North Korea might choose economic
cooperation with China over the Kaesong Industrial Complex with the
ROK. (JoongAng)
Media Analysis
North Korea
Most of the ROK media gave prominent attention to a Nov. 25 report
by the (North) Korean Central News Agency saying that North Korea
leader Kim Jong-il has visited machinery and cosmetics companies in
Shinuiju, a border town with China, in his second public appearance
in eight days. The ROK media reported that the North Korean media
did not reveal the exact date of the visit but released photos of
Kim visiting the companies. In particular, most newspapers noted
that Kim's visit to the companies in Shinuiju, North Pyongan
Province, is the first such visit outside of Pyongyang after a
series of public appearances the reclusive leader made in recent
months, and commented that the visit might be intended to show Kim's
improved state of health. In particular, right-of-center JoongAng
Ilbo took note of the fact that the release of Kim's photos came
just a day after North Korea's announcement that it would end daily
cross-border train service and tours of Kaesong city, and said that
this might suggest that the North's recent hard-line measures
against the ROK were orchestrated by leader Kim Jong-il. JoongAng
also speculated that the North Korean leader's visit to the border
town of Shinuiju might indicate that Pyongyang could choose economic
cooperation with China over the Kaesong Industrial Complex with the
ROK.
Features
The ROK and the U.S. Agree to Transform Cash-based Financial
Contribution for USFK Upkeep to a Goods Provision
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Page 8)
By Reporter Cho Soo-jin
It has been reported that the ROK and the U.S. have reached a
provisional agreement that they will incrementally modify by 2011
the method of Seoul's financial contribution for maintaining U.S.
troops in the ROK.
The conversion into a goods provision will be made step by step over
the next three years, and the two sides also agreed on the rate of
switchover for each year.
An ROKG source said on November 25, "Realistically, it is not easy
to make the transition happen at once given the long practice of
cash payment. We will make the transition step by step and as
swiftly as possible."
The ROKG plans to sign the deal with the U.S. and place its share of
defense costs for next year (about 760 billion won) under
consideration in the National Assembly for the budget deliberation
by next week.
At the fifth round of the high-level defense cost-sharing talks in
Hawaii on November 20, local time, the ROK and the U.S. tentatively
agreed to the 8th Special Measurement Agreement under which, in
addition to the transition, the U.S. will be allowed to divert the
defense fund to relocate the 2nd Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek.
Features
37% of ROK Lawmakers: "The KORUS FTA Would be Revised"
(Dong-a Ilbo, November 26, 2008, Pages 1 and 6)
By Reporters Kim Seung-ryeon, Park Jeong-hun, Goh Gi-jeong and Gil
Jin-gyun
Dong-a Ilbo conducted an opinion survey of 195 lawmakers on November
19-25. The respondents include lawmakers from the ruling Grand
National Party (129),the opposition Democratic Party (50) and the
Liberty Forward Party (5)
1. Are you in favor of the ROK-U.S. FTA?
Yes 87.7%
(96.9%, 70% and 87.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents
respectively)
No 9.7%
(2.3%, 22% and 12.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents
respectively)
Other 2.6%
2. When do you think that the ratification of the ROK-U.S. FTA
should be handled?
In a regular session before the U.S.'s demand for renegotiation
52.8%
(78.3%, 2% and 12.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents
respectively)
After the U.S.'s demand for renegotiation 38.5% (14.7%, 88% and
75.5% of the GNP, DP and LFP respondents respectively)
To be handled as a long-term task 4.1%
(10% and 12.5% of the DP and LFP respondents respectively)
Other 4.6%
2-1. If you chose "a" in Question 2, please describe the reason.
A renegotiation would hurt national interests
The ROK needs to express its will by ratifying the ROK-U.S. FTA
The ROK needs to prevent the U.S. from making demands that are
disadvantageous to the ROK
2-2. If you did not choose "a" in Question 2, please describe the
reason.
The U.S.'s demand for renegotiation is an established fact
Measures are lacking for those sectors that would be hurt by the
ROK-U.S. FTA
It would be better for the ROK-U.S. alliance (GNP respondents)
Due to the ratification issue, other pending issues might not be
handled in a timely manner (GNP respondents)
3. Is there any possibility that the ruling party will ram through
the ratification? (this question is only for GNP lawmakers)
a. The ruling party will try hard to reach an agreement with the
opposition parties, but if necessary, it will ram through the
ratification 63.6%
b. It will handle the issue, excluding the opposition parties
18.6%
c. The issue cannot be handled if the opposition parties oppose
11.6%
d. Other 6.2%
3-1. If you chose "a" or "b" in Question 3, please describe the
reason.
The ROK-U.S. FTA is likely to be revised after the inauguration of
the Obama administration (38.2% of the GNP respondents)
4. What measures would you come up with if the U.S. demands a
renegotiation or additional negotiation of the ROK-U.S. FTA?
Concession in the automotive sector 26.7%
(27.9% and 32% of the GNP and DP respondents respectively)
Concession in other sectors 10.3%
Rejecting the demand 44.6%
(48.1% and 26% of the GNP and DP respondents respectively)
Other 18.4%
Note: It means that 37 percent of those polled expect that the
ROK-U.S. FTA would be ratified both in the ROK National Assembly and
the U.S. Congress after it is revised (38.2% and 44% of the GNP and
DP respondents respectively)
5. What would you suggest as complementary measures to the ROK-U.S.
FTA?
- Complementary measures are needed for the sectors with poor global
competitiveness including the financial sector (43.4% of GNP
respondents)
- Agricultural measures are needed (38% and 30% of the GNP and DP
respondents respectively)
Stephens