Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL1134
2009-07-17 06:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; July 17, 2009
how-toVZCZCXRO9799 OO RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #1134/01 1980625 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 170625Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5042 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8874 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC//DDI/OEA// RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DB-Z// RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0032 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6300 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6388 RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1007 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4743 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3717 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6908 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1266 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2586 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1663 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2272
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SEOUL 001134
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; July 17, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo, All TVs
On Eve of Constitution Day, Rival Parties Continue Sit-in
at National Assembly, Paralyzing Legislative Operations
JoongAng Ilbo
President Lee:"Overcoming Economic Crisis Should Begin
by Recovering Sound Corporate Ethics"
Dong-a Ilbo
Committee to be Launched July 29 to Discuss
How to Deal with "Spent Nuclear Fuel"
Hankook Ilbo
Former President Kim Dae-jung Put on Respirator
but in Stable Condition
Hankyoreh Shinmun
New Human Rights Commission Head Appointed, but Appointee Has No
Expertise and Experience in Human Rights Activities
Segye Ilbo
Five N. Korean Officials Face Travel Ban, Asset Freeze by U.N.
Seoul Shinmun
"Middle Class in Crisis"
ROK's Middle Class Is Shrinking amid Economic Crisis
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens was named an honorary
goodwill ambassador yesterday for an ROK project to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Korea.
(JoongAng, Segye, Seoul)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a July 15 speech at the
Council on Foreign Relations, urged the world to join forces to
denuclearize North Korea. (Chosun, JoongAng)
According to Michael Nacht, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Global Strategic Affairs, the U.S. is developing a scenario in
preparation for a future North Korea, possibly without ailing leader
Kim Jong-il. (Chosun, all TVs)
Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's nominal head of state and No. 2 leader,
said at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt on July 15: "For
us, there can be neither dialogue nor any negotiations where the
principles of respect for sovereign rights and equality are denied.
The (Six-Party) Talks came to a permanent end because the U.S. and
the majority of the obedient parties to the talks abandoned this
principle." (All)
The UN Security Council agreed yesterday to impose travel bans on
and freeze the assets of five North Korean officials for their
involvement in developing missiles and carrying out the North's
second nuclear test. The UNSC also listed five North Korean firms
subject to sanctions under Resolution 1874, adopted on June 12. This
is the first time the UNSC put specific North Korean officials on
the list of targets for sanctions. (JoongAng, Dong-a, Hankook,
Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
SEOUL 00001134 002 OF 003
--------------
-N. Korea
--------------
Conservative Chosun Ilbo and right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo ran
inside-page reports on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's July 15
speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, in which she urged the
world to join forces to denuclearize North Korea. She was quoted:
"We have invested a significant amount of diplomatic resources to
achieve a Security Council consensus in response to North Korea's
provocative actions. ... The short-term results were two unanimous
Security Council resolutions... and the long-term result, we
believe, will be a tougher joint effort toward the complete and
verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
Conservative Chosun also cited two other senior U.S. officials as
stating that UNSC Resolution 1874 will be strongly pursued (around
the world.) Chosun viewed this series of remarks on North Korea by
U.S. officials as suggesting the Obama Administration's confidence
in spreading sanctions against North Korea following the return of
the North Korean cargo ship, "Kang Nam," to its home port after
being trailed by the U.S. Navy.
The July 15 remark by Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's nominal head of
state and No. 2 leader, at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt
that the (Six-Party) Talks came to a permanent end, continues to
draw the attention of the ROK media. Conservative Chosun Ilbo cited
a local expert as interpreting this to indicate North Korea's
intention to engage in nuclear disarmament talks only with the U.S.,
instead of the Six-Party Talks aimed at denuclearizing the North.
Chosun went on to comment: "North Korea was only developing a
nuclear program when the Six-Party Talks started in 2003, but it has
now become a nuclear state after two nuclear tests. Pyongyang is
apparently after a new dialogue framework that will replace the
Six-Party Talks."
The UNSC's July 16 imposition of sanctions against five North Korean
officials involved in developing missiles and carrying out the
North's second nuclear test also received wide media coverage. Most
media noted that this is the first time the UNSC put specific North
Korean officials on the list of targets for sanctions.
Conservative Chosun and all TV networks carried reports from
Washington quoting Michael Nacht, the Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Global Strategic Affairs, as saying, "The U.S. is developing a
scenario in preparation for a future North Korea, possibly without
ailing leader Kim Jong-il."
FEATURES
--------------
AMBASSADOR STEPHENS NAMED AN HONORARY GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR ROK
PROJECT TO CELEBRATE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPENING OF NATIONAL MUSEUM
OF KOREA
(Yonhap News, July 16)
By Reporter Lee Seung-gwan
The U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens was awarded a
letter of appointment by First Lady Kim Yoon-ok on July 16 as an
honorary goodwill ambassador for a ROK project to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Korea.
The project was launched as the National Museum of Korea, which was
established as the ROK's first modern museum in 1909, marks its
100th anniversary. Ms. Kim serves as an honorary chairman of the
commemoration committee.
Ambassador Stephens will participate as a goodwill ambassador in a
special commemorative exhibition in September and a commemorative
event in November. She will play various roles to promote the
project and to make it internationally recognized.
SEOUL 00001134 003 OF 003
When presenting the appointment letter, First Lady Kim proclaimed
that Sim Eun-kyong (Stephens' Korean name) will serve as an honorary
goodwill ambassador for the ROK project to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Korea. Ms. Kim
awarded Ambassador Stephens an appointment plaque made of celadon.
Ambassador Stephens said that when she came back to Korea, she felt
that there were many museums in Korea, and that they were
well-curated and their exhibitions were very impressive.
Attendees of the award ceremony included Stephens' son James Whong,
Choe Kwang-shik, the Director of the National Museum of Korea, Choe
Chong-pil the Chairman of the Korean National Committee of the
International Council of Museums, and Chong Jea-gon, the Senior
Presidential Secretary for Education, Science and Culture.
A Blue House official said that the ROKG named Ambassador Stephens
an honorary goodwill ambassador for the commemorative project
because of her extraordinary love and interest in Korean culture and
the U.S.' deep influence on the development and growth of the
Museum.
U.S. PREPARING SCENARIO FOR A FUTURE N. KOREA
(Chosun Ilbo, July 17, 2009, page 6)
By Correspondent Lee Ha-won
The U.S. Defense Department is developing a scenario in preparation
for a future North Korea, possibly without ailing leader Kim
Jong-il, a senior department official indicated Wednesday.
Michael Nacht, the assistant secretary of defense for global
strategic affairs, on Wednesday said at a hearing on weapons of mass
destruction at the House Armed Services Committee that the
department is developing a scenario for the future of North Korea.
Nacht said Kim is sick and his youngest son and heir apparent is in
an unstable position. Tension with the outside world over the past
months is attributable to such domestic factors as well as external
problems, he added.
The U.S. Administration has so far avoided mentioning Kim's health.
Nacht's remarks are unusual. Some (ROK) observers say that the U.S.
Administration may have obtained detailed information on Kim
Jong-il's health condition, which has been noticeably worsening
these days.
Nacht's mention of a "scenario" shows that the U.S. military is
getting a step closer to an operational plan that will go into
action in case of a sudden change in North Korea. The Defense
Department has reportedly focused on preventing North Korean nuclear
weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from falling in the
hands of the outside world in case of any emergency resulting from
Kim Jong-il's death or the North Korean regime's collapse.
Previously, General Sharp, the commander of U.S. military forces in
the ROK, said that the U.S. and ROK forces are prepared to counter
any attack from North Korea. North Korea railed against his
remarks.
(We have compared the English version on the website with the Korean
version and added some sentences to make them identical.)
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; July 17, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo, All TVs
On Eve of Constitution Day, Rival Parties Continue Sit-in
at National Assembly, Paralyzing Legislative Operations
JoongAng Ilbo
President Lee:"Overcoming Economic Crisis Should Begin
by Recovering Sound Corporate Ethics"
Dong-a Ilbo
Committee to be Launched July 29 to Discuss
How to Deal with "Spent Nuclear Fuel"
Hankook Ilbo
Former President Kim Dae-jung Put on Respirator
but in Stable Condition
Hankyoreh Shinmun
New Human Rights Commission Head Appointed, but Appointee Has No
Expertise and Experience in Human Rights Activities
Segye Ilbo
Five N. Korean Officials Face Travel Ban, Asset Freeze by U.N.
Seoul Shinmun
"Middle Class in Crisis"
ROK's Middle Class Is Shrinking amid Economic Crisis
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens was named an honorary
goodwill ambassador yesterday for an ROK project to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Korea.
(JoongAng, Segye, Seoul)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a July 15 speech at the
Council on Foreign Relations, urged the world to join forces to
denuclearize North Korea. (Chosun, JoongAng)
According to Michael Nacht, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Global Strategic Affairs, the U.S. is developing a scenario in
preparation for a future North Korea, possibly without ailing leader
Kim Jong-il. (Chosun, all TVs)
Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's nominal head of state and No. 2 leader,
said at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt on July 15: "For
us, there can be neither dialogue nor any negotiations where the
principles of respect for sovereign rights and equality are denied.
The (Six-Party) Talks came to a permanent end because the U.S. and
the majority of the obedient parties to the talks abandoned this
principle." (All)
The UN Security Council agreed yesterday to impose travel bans on
and freeze the assets of five North Korean officials for their
involvement in developing missiles and carrying out the North's
second nuclear test. The UNSC also listed five North Korean firms
subject to sanctions under Resolution 1874, adopted on June 12. This
is the first time the UNSC put specific North Korean officials on
the list of targets for sanctions. (JoongAng, Dong-a, Hankook,
Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
SEOUL 00001134 002 OF 003
--------------
-N. Korea
--------------
Conservative Chosun Ilbo and right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo ran
inside-page reports on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's July 15
speech at the Council on Foreign Relations, in which she urged the
world to join forces to denuclearize North Korea. She was quoted:
"We have invested a significant amount of diplomatic resources to
achieve a Security Council consensus in response to North Korea's
provocative actions. ... The short-term results were two unanimous
Security Council resolutions... and the long-term result, we
believe, will be a tougher joint effort toward the complete and
verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
Conservative Chosun also cited two other senior U.S. officials as
stating that UNSC Resolution 1874 will be strongly pursued (around
the world.) Chosun viewed this series of remarks on North Korea by
U.S. officials as suggesting the Obama Administration's confidence
in spreading sanctions against North Korea following the return of
the North Korean cargo ship, "Kang Nam," to its home port after
being trailed by the U.S. Navy.
The July 15 remark by Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's nominal head of
state and No. 2 leader, at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt
that the (Six-Party) Talks came to a permanent end, continues to
draw the attention of the ROK media. Conservative Chosun Ilbo cited
a local expert as interpreting this to indicate North Korea's
intention to engage in nuclear disarmament talks only with the U.S.,
instead of the Six-Party Talks aimed at denuclearizing the North.
Chosun went on to comment: "North Korea was only developing a
nuclear program when the Six-Party Talks started in 2003, but it has
now become a nuclear state after two nuclear tests. Pyongyang is
apparently after a new dialogue framework that will replace the
Six-Party Talks."
The UNSC's July 16 imposition of sanctions against five North Korean
officials involved in developing missiles and carrying out the
North's second nuclear test also received wide media coverage. Most
media noted that this is the first time the UNSC put specific North
Korean officials on the list of targets for sanctions.
Conservative Chosun and all TV networks carried reports from
Washington quoting Michael Nacht, the Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Global Strategic Affairs, as saying, "The U.S. is developing a
scenario in preparation for a future North Korea, possibly without
ailing leader Kim Jong-il."
FEATURES
--------------
AMBASSADOR STEPHENS NAMED AN HONORARY GOODWILL AMBASSADOR FOR ROK
PROJECT TO CELEBRATE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPENING OF NATIONAL MUSEUM
OF KOREA
(Yonhap News, July 16)
By Reporter Lee Seung-gwan
The U.S. Ambassador to the ROK Kathleen Stephens was awarded a
letter of appointment by First Lady Kim Yoon-ok on July 16 as an
honorary goodwill ambassador for a ROK project to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Korea.
The project was launched as the National Museum of Korea, which was
established as the ROK's first modern museum in 1909, marks its
100th anniversary. Ms. Kim serves as an honorary chairman of the
commemoration committee.
Ambassador Stephens will participate as a goodwill ambassador in a
special commemorative exhibition in September and a commemorative
event in November. She will play various roles to promote the
project and to make it internationally recognized.
SEOUL 00001134 003 OF 003
When presenting the appointment letter, First Lady Kim proclaimed
that Sim Eun-kyong (Stephens' Korean name) will serve as an honorary
goodwill ambassador for the ROK project to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Korea. Ms. Kim
awarded Ambassador Stephens an appointment plaque made of celadon.
Ambassador Stephens said that when she came back to Korea, she felt
that there were many museums in Korea, and that they were
well-curated and their exhibitions were very impressive.
Attendees of the award ceremony included Stephens' son James Whong,
Choe Kwang-shik, the Director of the National Museum of Korea, Choe
Chong-pil the Chairman of the Korean National Committee of the
International Council of Museums, and Chong Jea-gon, the Senior
Presidential Secretary for Education, Science and Culture.
A Blue House official said that the ROKG named Ambassador Stephens
an honorary goodwill ambassador for the commemorative project
because of her extraordinary love and interest in Korean culture and
the U.S.' deep influence on the development and growth of the
Museum.
U.S. PREPARING SCENARIO FOR A FUTURE N. KOREA
(Chosun Ilbo, July 17, 2009, page 6)
By Correspondent Lee Ha-won
The U.S. Defense Department is developing a scenario in preparation
for a future North Korea, possibly without ailing leader Kim
Jong-il, a senior department official indicated Wednesday.
Michael Nacht, the assistant secretary of defense for global
strategic affairs, on Wednesday said at a hearing on weapons of mass
destruction at the House Armed Services Committee that the
department is developing a scenario for the future of North Korea.
Nacht said Kim is sick and his youngest son and heir apparent is in
an unstable position. Tension with the outside world over the past
months is attributable to such domestic factors as well as external
problems, he added.
The U.S. Administration has so far avoided mentioning Kim's health.
Nacht's remarks are unusual. Some (ROK) observers say that the U.S.
Administration may have obtained detailed information on Kim
Jong-il's health condition, which has been noticeably worsening
these days.
Nacht's mention of a "scenario" shows that the U.S. military is
getting a step closer to an operational plan that will go into
action in case of a sudden change in North Korea. The Defense
Department has reportedly focused on preventing North Korean nuclear
weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from falling in the
hands of the outside world in case of any emergency resulting from
Kim Jong-il's death or the North Korean regime's collapse.
Previously, General Sharp, the commander of U.S. military forces in
the ROK, said that the U.S. and ROK forces are prepared to counter
any attack from North Korea. North Korea railed against his
remarks.
(We have compared the English version on the website with the Korean
version and added some sentences to make them identical.)
STEPHENS