Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL1167
2009-07-24 04:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; July 24, 2009
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SEOUL 001167
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; July 24, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo
Ruling Camp Seeks "Cabinet Reshuffle" to Overcome Political
Stalemate Caused by Unilateral Passage of Media Reform Bills, While
Opposition Parties Vow to Fight to Nullify the Passage
JoongAng Ilbo
"Who Will Want to Enter Media Industry with Responsibility When the
Stake is Only10 Percent?"
Media Experts Skeptical over Effectiveness of Revised Media
Measures
Dong-a Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun
Public Welfare Bills Get Lost Amid Confrontation
between Rival Parties
Hankook Ilbo
Opposition Parties Go to Court over "Voting Fraud"
Opposition Claims Some Ruling Party Lawmakers Cast Ballots Multiple
Times on Behalf of Fellow Lawmakers
When Voting Occurred on Media Reform Bills
Hankyoreh Shinmun
National Assembly Secretariat's Claim - That It is "Customary" for
the Assembly to Vote Again on the Same Bill
- Turns Out to Be a Lie
Segye Ilbo
Hyundai Motor's Global Market Share Reaches
5 Percent for First Time
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
The (ROK) Fair Trade Commission (FTC) yesterday slapped Qualcomm
Inc., the U.S.-based mobile chipmaker, with the agency's
highest-ever penalty of 260 billion won ($208 million) for unfair
trade practices. Qualcomm responded that it cannot agree with the
FTC's ruling and will take legal steps. (All)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
The 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Thailand ended yesterday with
a chairman's statement that included not only the condemnation of
North Korea's nuclear test but also statements made by North Korea,
a development seen as likely to arouse controversy. (JoongAng,
Dong-a, Segye, Seoul, all TVs)
Ri Hung-sik, deputy head of North Korea's delegation to the ARF,
said during a July 23 press conference that the "comprehensive
package" proposed by the U.S. and the ROK for North Korea's
denuclearization is "nonsense" and "just a replay of the Bush
Administration's policy of CVID (complete, verifiable and
irreversible dismantlement)."(All)
A spokesman from the North Korean Foreign Ministry criticized
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her recent remarks that
likened the North to "unruly teenagers," saying: "We cannot but
regard Mrs. Clinton as a funny lady as she likes to utter such
rhetoric, unaware of the elementary etiquette in the international
community. Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and
sometimes a pensioner going shopping." (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook)
On July 22, the U.S. Senate called North Korea a "threat" to its
neighbors and urged the Obama Administration to consider relisting
North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Chosun, Dong-a,
SEOUL 00001167 002 OF 004
Hankook, Segye, Seoul, all TVs)
Navy Admiral Timothy Keating, the commander of U.S. forces in the
Asia-Pacific region, said in a July 22 briefing that the U.S. is
prepared to execute a "wide range of options" for a possible
leadership change in North Korea in concert with allies in the
Asia-Pacific region. (Chosun, JoongAng, Dong-a, Segye, Seoul, all
TVs)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-ASEAN Meeting Wrap-up
--------------
Most ROK media gave attention to yesterday's conclusion to the 16th
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Thailand. In particular, the media
noted the adoption of a chairman's statement that included not only
the condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test but also many of
North Korea's own statements, including the North's justification of
its second nuclear test. Most media viewed this development as
likely to arouse controversy, with the headline of right-of-center
JoongAng Ilbo, in particular, saying: "This Year Again, ARF
Diplomacy Out of Shape"
Ri Hung-sik, deputy head of North Korea's delegation to the ARF was
widely quoted as saying during a July 23 press conference in
Thailand that the "comprehensive package" proposed by the U.S. and
the ROK for North Korea's denuclearization is "nonsense" and "just a
replay of the Bush Administration's policy of CVID (complete,
verifiable and irreversible dismantlement)."
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun, however, noted the North Korean
official's remark, "We do not oppose talks with the U.S.,"
interpreting this to indicate Pyongyang's willingness to entertain
the idea of negotiations with Washington.
-N. Korea
--------------
Most ROK media picked up the July 23 press remarks by a North Korean
Foreign Ministry spokesman, in which the spokesman criticized
Secretary Clinton for referring to North Korea as "unruly
teenagers," saying: "We cannot but regard Mrs. Clinton as a funny
lady as she likes to utter such rhetoric, unaware of the elementary
etiquette in the international community. Sometimes she looks like
a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping."
The ROK media carried reports that the U.S. Senate urged the Obama
Administration on July 22 to consider relisting North Korea as a
state sponsor of terrorism because North Korea poses a "threat" to
its neighbors.
July 22 press remarks by Navy Admiral Timothy Keating, the commander
of U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region, also captured the
attention of the ROK media. He was widely quoted as saying during a
July 22 briefing: "I can tell you that we have plans with United
States Forces Korea and others in place if the President tells us to
execute those plans, in the event of some uncertain succession in
the North."
U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "What is particularly
noteworthy is that the Korean Peninsula issue will be discussed as
one major topic during the Dialogue. ... Although we acknowledge the
inevitability of discussions between the U.S. and China on the
Korean Peninsula issue, the two nations must not determine our fate,
with the ROK, the party concerned, excluded. ... We should refine
our vision for the future of the Korean Peninsula, which takes
unification into consideration, and actively persuade the U.S. and
China based on this (vision). North Korea, for its part, should
take the reality, that the Korean Peninsula issue is high on the
U.S.-China Dialogue agenda, seriously and abandon its nuclear
program. ... In the long term, the unification of the Korean
Peninsula should be discussed in a 'two-plus-four format,' in which
SEOUL 00001167 003 OF 004
the two Korea's take the lead with support from the remaining four
nations of the Six-Party Talks. In this sense, the two Koreas
should resume talks as early as possible."
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
--------------
NEXT WEEK'S U.S.-CHINA STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE IS NOTEWORTHY
BECAUSE IT WILL SEAL THE FATE OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA
(JoongAng Ilbo, July 24, page 38)
The international community is turning its attention to the first
U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue that will take place in
Washington early next week. The Dialogue will be held in a
"two-plus-two format" because it will be attended on the U.S. side
by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner; and on the Chinese side by State Councilor Dai Bingguo and
Vice Premier Wang Qishan. This Dialogue is a high-level strategic
meeting that will be different from the previous one held at the
vice-ministerial level. The Dialogue could be viewed as the
official advent of a "G2" era in which the international order is
dominated by two powerful countries (the U.S. and China). According
to the White House, both countries will address a variety of pending
issues including short- and long-term strategy, and economic
interests in regional and global areas.
What is particularly noteworthy is that the Korean Peninsula issue
will be discussed as one major topic during the Dialogue. During a
July 22 press conference, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei
said that both countries will use the Dialogue to discuss ways to
peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. It seems natural
that the North Korean nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula issue
will be put on the discussion table because both are major security
and regional concerns for the U.S. and China. The harsh reality is
that the North Korean nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula issue
cannot be ultimately resolved unless both countries have common
interests.
In addressing the North Korean nuclear issue, the U.S. maintains its
position that there have to be consequences for bad behavior. Under
this position, the U.S. is strengthening pressure on North Korea
through sanctions, and at the same time holding out a carrot in the
name of a "comprehensive package."
The comprehensive package, which was first revealed during Assistant
Secretary of State Kurt Campbell's recent visit to the ROK, was
formalized through Secretary Clinton's speech at the ARF yesterday.
In the speech, she said specifically that if the North Koreans will
agree to complete and irreversible denuclearization, the U.S., as
well as its partners, will move forward on a package of incentives,
including normalizing relations with energy and economic assistance.
While giving weight to stick measures, she also provided the North
with a way out. Still, North Korea's representative to the ARF
described the initiative as a "nonsense," which is a clear
misjudgment based on their false perception of reality.
Although we acknowledge the inevitability of discussions between the
U.S. and China on the Korean Peninsula issue, the two nations must
not determine our fate, with the ROK, the party concerned, excluded.
This is not the time for us to rely entirely on the ROK-U.S.
alliance and do nothing. We should refine our vision for the future
of the Korean Peninsula - which takes unification into consideration
- and actively persuade the U.S. and China based on this (vision).
North Korea, for its part, should take the reality, that the Korean
Peninsula issue is high on the U.S.-China Dialogue agenda, seriously
and abandon its nuclear programs. And as already shown in the
process of German unification, in the long term, the unification of
the Korean Peninsula should be discussed in a "two-plus-four
format," in which the two Koreas take the lead with support from the
remaining four nations of the Six-Party Talks. In this sense, the
two Koreas should resume talks as early as possible.
SEOUL 00001167 004 OF 004
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; July 24, 2009
TOP HEADLINES
--------------
Chosun Ilbo
Ruling Camp Seeks "Cabinet Reshuffle" to Overcome Political
Stalemate Caused by Unilateral Passage of Media Reform Bills, While
Opposition Parties Vow to Fight to Nullify the Passage
JoongAng Ilbo
"Who Will Want to Enter Media Industry with Responsibility When the
Stake is Only10 Percent?"
Media Experts Skeptical over Effectiveness of Revised Media
Measures
Dong-a Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun
Public Welfare Bills Get Lost Amid Confrontation
between Rival Parties
Hankook Ilbo
Opposition Parties Go to Court over "Voting Fraud"
Opposition Claims Some Ruling Party Lawmakers Cast Ballots Multiple
Times on Behalf of Fellow Lawmakers
When Voting Occurred on Media Reform Bills
Hankyoreh Shinmun
National Assembly Secretariat's Claim - That It is "Customary" for
the Assembly to Vote Again on the Same Bill
- Turns Out to Be a Lie
Segye Ilbo
Hyundai Motor's Global Market Share Reaches
5 Percent for First Time
DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
--------------
The (ROK) Fair Trade Commission (FTC) yesterday slapped Qualcomm
Inc., the U.S.-based mobile chipmaker, with the agency's
highest-ever penalty of 260 billion won ($208 million) for unfair
trade practices. Qualcomm responded that it cannot agree with the
FTC's ruling and will take legal steps. (All)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--------------
The 16th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Thailand ended yesterday with
a chairman's statement that included not only the condemnation of
North Korea's nuclear test but also statements made by North Korea,
a development seen as likely to arouse controversy. (JoongAng,
Dong-a, Segye, Seoul, all TVs)
Ri Hung-sik, deputy head of North Korea's delegation to the ARF,
said during a July 23 press conference that the "comprehensive
package" proposed by the U.S. and the ROK for North Korea's
denuclearization is "nonsense" and "just a replay of the Bush
Administration's policy of CVID (complete, verifiable and
irreversible dismantlement)."(All)
A spokesman from the North Korean Foreign Ministry criticized
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her recent remarks that
likened the North to "unruly teenagers," saying: "We cannot but
regard Mrs. Clinton as a funny lady as she likes to utter such
rhetoric, unaware of the elementary etiquette in the international
community. Sometimes she looks like a primary schoolgirl and
sometimes a pensioner going shopping." (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook)
On July 22, the U.S. Senate called North Korea a "threat" to its
neighbors and urged the Obama Administration to consider relisting
North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. (Chosun, Dong-a,
SEOUL 00001167 002 OF 004
Hankook, Segye, Seoul, all TVs)
Navy Admiral Timothy Keating, the commander of U.S. forces in the
Asia-Pacific region, said in a July 22 briefing that the U.S. is
prepared to execute a "wide range of options" for a possible
leadership change in North Korea in concert with allies in the
Asia-Pacific region. (Chosun, JoongAng, Dong-a, Segye, Seoul, all
TVs)
MEDIA ANALYSIS
--------------
-ASEAN Meeting Wrap-up
--------------
Most ROK media gave attention to yesterday's conclusion to the 16th
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Thailand. In particular, the media
noted the adoption of a chairman's statement that included not only
the condemnation of North Korea's nuclear test but also many of
North Korea's own statements, including the North's justification of
its second nuclear test. Most media viewed this development as
likely to arouse controversy, with the headline of right-of-center
JoongAng Ilbo, in particular, saying: "This Year Again, ARF
Diplomacy Out of Shape"
Ri Hung-sik, deputy head of North Korea's delegation to the ARF was
widely quoted as saying during a July 23 press conference in
Thailand that the "comprehensive package" proposed by the U.S. and
the ROK for North Korea's denuclearization is "nonsense" and "just a
replay of the Bush Administration's policy of CVID (complete,
verifiable and irreversible dismantlement)."
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun, however, noted the North Korean
official's remark, "We do not oppose talks with the U.S.,"
interpreting this to indicate Pyongyang's willingness to entertain
the idea of negotiations with Washington.
-N. Korea
--------------
Most ROK media picked up the July 23 press remarks by a North Korean
Foreign Ministry spokesman, in which the spokesman criticized
Secretary Clinton for referring to North Korea as "unruly
teenagers," saying: "We cannot but regard Mrs. Clinton as a funny
lady as she likes to utter such rhetoric, unaware of the elementary
etiquette in the international community. Sometimes she looks like
a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping."
The ROK media carried reports that the U.S. Senate urged the Obama
Administration on July 22 to consider relisting North Korea as a
state sponsor of terrorism because North Korea poses a "threat" to
its neighbors.
July 22 press remarks by Navy Admiral Timothy Keating, the commander
of U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region, also captured the
attention of the ROK media. He was widely quoted as saying during a
July 22 briefing: "I can tell you that we have plans with United
States Forces Korea and others in place if the President tells us to
execute those plans, in the event of some uncertain succession in
the North."
U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "What is particularly
noteworthy is that the Korean Peninsula issue will be discussed as
one major topic during the Dialogue. ... Although we acknowledge the
inevitability of discussions between the U.S. and China on the
Korean Peninsula issue, the two nations must not determine our fate,
with the ROK, the party concerned, excluded. ... We should refine
our vision for the future of the Korean Peninsula, which takes
unification into consideration, and actively persuade the U.S. and
China based on this (vision). North Korea, for its part, should
take the reality, that the Korean Peninsula issue is high on the
U.S.-China Dialogue agenda, seriously and abandon its nuclear
program. ... In the long term, the unification of the Korean
Peninsula should be discussed in a 'two-plus-four format,' in which
SEOUL 00001167 003 OF 004
the two Korea's take the lead with support from the remaining four
nations of the Six-Party Talks. In this sense, the two Koreas
should resume talks as early as possible."
OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
--------------
NEXT WEEK'S U.S.-CHINA STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE IS NOTEWORTHY
BECAUSE IT WILL SEAL THE FATE OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA
(JoongAng Ilbo, July 24, page 38)
The international community is turning its attention to the first
U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue that will take place in
Washington early next week. The Dialogue will be held in a
"two-plus-two format" because it will be attended on the U.S. side
by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner; and on the Chinese side by State Councilor Dai Bingguo and
Vice Premier Wang Qishan. This Dialogue is a high-level strategic
meeting that will be different from the previous one held at the
vice-ministerial level. The Dialogue could be viewed as the
official advent of a "G2" era in which the international order is
dominated by two powerful countries (the U.S. and China). According
to the White House, both countries will address a variety of pending
issues including short- and long-term strategy, and economic
interests in regional and global areas.
What is particularly noteworthy is that the Korean Peninsula issue
will be discussed as one major topic during the Dialogue. During a
July 22 press conference, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei
said that both countries will use the Dialogue to discuss ways to
peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. It seems natural
that the North Korean nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula issue
will be put on the discussion table because both are major security
and regional concerns for the U.S. and China. The harsh reality is
that the North Korean nuclear issue and the Korean Peninsula issue
cannot be ultimately resolved unless both countries have common
interests.
In addressing the North Korean nuclear issue, the U.S. maintains its
position that there have to be consequences for bad behavior. Under
this position, the U.S. is strengthening pressure on North Korea
through sanctions, and at the same time holding out a carrot in the
name of a "comprehensive package."
The comprehensive package, which was first revealed during Assistant
Secretary of State Kurt Campbell's recent visit to the ROK, was
formalized through Secretary Clinton's speech at the ARF yesterday.
In the speech, she said specifically that if the North Koreans will
agree to complete and irreversible denuclearization, the U.S., as
well as its partners, will move forward on a package of incentives,
including normalizing relations with energy and economic assistance.
While giving weight to stick measures, she also provided the North
with a way out. Still, North Korea's representative to the ARF
described the initiative as a "nonsense," which is a clear
misjudgment based on their false perception of reality.
Although we acknowledge the inevitability of discussions between the
U.S. and China on the Korean Peninsula issue, the two nations must
not determine our fate, with the ROK, the party concerned, excluded.
This is not the time for us to rely entirely on the ROK-U.S.
alliance and do nothing. We should refine our vision for the future
of the Korean Peninsula - which takes unification into consideration
- and actively persuade the U.S. and China based on this (vision).
North Korea, for its part, should take the reality, that the Korean
Peninsula issue is high on the U.S.-China Dialogue agenda, seriously
and abandon its nuclear programs. And as already shown in the
process of German unification, in the long term, the unification of
the Korean Peninsula should be discussed in a "two-plus-four
format," in which the two Koreas take the lead with support from the
remaining four nations of the Six-Party Talks. In this sense, the
two Koreas should resume talks as early as possible.
SEOUL 00001167 004 OF 004
STEPHENS