Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL1013
2009-06-25 05:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; June 25, 2009
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 001013
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; June 25, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo
"National Universities Should Increase Admission Quota for Students
from Provincial Areas and Businesses
Should Make Efforts to Protect the Weak"
President Lee Continues to Make Remarks
Aimed at Ordinary Citizens
JoongAng Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun
OECD: "ROK Economy will Grow 3.5 Percent Next Year, the Highest
among OECD Members"
Dong-a Ilbo, KBS
Send-off Ceremony Held for Remains of Korean War Dead
Hankook Ilbo
Confrontation, Conflict, Feud... ROK Torn Apart by Ideology
The Middle-of-the-Road Should Come Forward
to Maintain the Balance in ROK Society
Hankyoreh Shinmun
Undisguised Attempt by Lee Myung-bak Administration and Ruling Party
to "Control MBC"
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
A senior Blue House official told reporters yesterday that the
envisioned "five-way consultations" are not a new dialogue framework
to replace the Six-Party Talks but a new approach to bring North
Korea back to the Six-Party Talks. (Dong-a)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
According to the AP, U.S. defense and counter-proliferation
officials said that intelligence suggests that North Korea will
likely fire short and medium-range missiles, given the splash-down
zone mentioned in the North's latest notice of "military exercises"
and other activities that are consistent with these types of
launches. (Hankook, Segye, Seoul, KBS)
According to a diplomatic source in Washington, some senators,
including Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, are opposing the
confirmation of Kurt Campbell as Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, while calling for the re-designation
of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Chosun)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-N. Korea
--------------
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo carried a quote from a senior Blue House
official, who told reporters yesterday that the envisioned "five-way
consultation" is not a new dialogue framework to replace the
Six-Party Talks but a new approach to bring North Korea back to the
Six-Party Talks.
Most media replayed a June 23 AP report citing U.S. defense and
counter-proliferation officials as saying that intelligence suggests
that North Korea will likely fire short and medium-range missiles,
given the splash-down zone mentioned in the North's latest notice of
"military exercises" and other activities that are consistent with
these types of launches.
-Iran
SEOUL 00001013 002 OF 002
--------------
Newspapers reported the remarks which President Barack Obama made on
June 23 about the Iranian situation, quoting him as saying: "The
U.S. and the international community have been appalled and outraged
by the threats, the beatings and imprisonments of the last few
days."
Newspapers carried the following headlines: "Obama Questions Iran
Vote; He Breaks Silence and Sends Strong Message" (conservative
Chosun Ilbo, right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo, moderate Hankook Ilbo,
conservative Segye Ilbo, moderate Seoul Shinmun); Obama Shifts from
a 'Cautious' to a Hard-line Approach" (conservative Dong-a Ilbo);
and "Chilly Winds Blow Again between U.S. and Iran" (left-leaning
Hankyoreh Shinmun)
FEATURES
--------------
FIVE-WAY TALKS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE SIX-PARTY TALKS BUT (ONLY) TO
PERSUADE NORTH KOREA
(Dong-a Ilbo, June 25, page 6)
By Reporter Cheong Young-gwan
On June 24, the Blue House stressed that the five-way talks
(proposed by President Lee Myung-bak) to resolve the North
the other five nations to meet and Korean nuclear issue are not
intended to put pressure on North Korea but to persuade the North
to come back to the Six-Party Talks. A senior Blue House official
told reporters that the envisioned "five-way consultation" is not a
new dialogue framework to replace the Six-Party Talks but a new
approach to bring North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks.
He noted, "With North Korea boycotting the Six-Party Talks, this
proposal is designed (to provide a means) for the other five nations
to find the greatest possible common denominator," adding, "It is
not a talk or meeting but a consultation."
Regarding Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang's statement a
day earlier that "We think that the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula should be achieved through the Six-Party Talks," the Blue
House official said, "(The statement) made no mention of opposition
(to the five-way talks). There is no disagreement among the five
countries about the goal of bringing the North back to the dialogue
and dismantling its nuclear (weapons.) This also holds true for
China."
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; June 25, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo
"National Universities Should Increase Admission Quota for Students
from Provincial Areas and Businesses
Should Make Efforts to Protect the Weak"
President Lee Continues to Make Remarks
Aimed at Ordinary Citizens
JoongAng Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun
OECD: "ROK Economy will Grow 3.5 Percent Next Year, the Highest
among OECD Members"
Dong-a Ilbo, KBS
Send-off Ceremony Held for Remains of Korean War Dead
Hankook Ilbo
Confrontation, Conflict, Feud... ROK Torn Apart by Ideology
The Middle-of-the-Road Should Come Forward
to Maintain the Balance in ROK Society
Hankyoreh Shinmun
Undisguised Attempt by Lee Myung-bak Administration and Ruling Party
to "Control MBC"
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
A senior Blue House official told reporters yesterday that the
envisioned "five-way consultations" are not a new dialogue framework
to replace the Six-Party Talks but a new approach to bring North
Korea back to the Six-Party Talks. (Dong-a)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
According to the AP, U.S. defense and counter-proliferation
officials said that intelligence suggests that North Korea will
likely fire short and medium-range missiles, given the splash-down
zone mentioned in the North's latest notice of "military exercises"
and other activities that are consistent with these types of
launches. (Hankook, Segye, Seoul, KBS)
According to a diplomatic source in Washington, some senators,
including Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, are opposing the
confirmation of Kurt Campbell as Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, while calling for the re-designation
of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Chosun)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-N. Korea
--------------
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo carried a quote from a senior Blue House
official, who told reporters yesterday that the envisioned "five-way
consultation" is not a new dialogue framework to replace the
Six-Party Talks but a new approach to bring North Korea back to the
Six-Party Talks.
Most media replayed a June 23 AP report citing U.S. defense and
counter-proliferation officials as saying that intelligence suggests
that North Korea will likely fire short and medium-range missiles,
given the splash-down zone mentioned in the North's latest notice of
"military exercises" and other activities that are consistent with
these types of launches.
-Iran
SEOUL 00001013 002 OF 002
--------------
Newspapers reported the remarks which President Barack Obama made on
June 23 about the Iranian situation, quoting him as saying: "The
U.S. and the international community have been appalled and outraged
by the threats, the beatings and imprisonments of the last few
days."
Newspapers carried the following headlines: "Obama Questions Iran
Vote; He Breaks Silence and Sends Strong Message" (conservative
Chosun Ilbo, right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo, moderate Hankook Ilbo,
conservative Segye Ilbo, moderate Seoul Shinmun); Obama Shifts from
a 'Cautious' to a Hard-line Approach" (conservative Dong-a Ilbo);
and "Chilly Winds Blow Again between U.S. and Iran" (left-leaning
Hankyoreh Shinmun)
FEATURES
--------------
FIVE-WAY TALKS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE SIX-PARTY TALKS BUT (ONLY) TO
PERSUADE NORTH KOREA
(Dong-a Ilbo, June 25, page 6)
By Reporter Cheong Young-gwan
On June 24, the Blue House stressed that the five-way talks
(proposed by President Lee Myung-bak) to resolve the North
the other five nations to meet and Korean nuclear issue are not
intended to put pressure on North Korea but to persuade the North
to come back to the Six-Party Talks. A senior Blue House official
told reporters that the envisioned "five-way consultation" is not a
new dialogue framework to replace the Six-Party Talks but a new
approach to bring North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks.
He noted, "With North Korea boycotting the Six-Party Talks, this
proposal is designed (to provide a means) for the other five nations
to find the greatest possible common denominator," adding, "It is
not a talk or meeting but a consultation."
Regarding Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang's statement a
day earlier that "We think that the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula should be achieved through the Six-Party Talks," the Blue
House official said, "(The statement) made no mention of opposition
(to the five-way talks). There is no disagreement among the five
countries about the goal of bringing the North back to the dialogue
and dismantling its nuclear (weapons.) This also holds true for
China."
STEPHENS