Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL1295
2009-08-14 04:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
how-toVZCZCXRO2216 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #1295 2260430 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 140430Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5339 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 9014 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6546 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0160 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6466 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1136 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4887 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3855 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 7056 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1390 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2708 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1787 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2395
UNCLAS SEOUL 001295
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
East Asia and Pacific: DPRK
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"MODERATING PRESSURE ON N. KOREA IS THE KEY"
Senior Journalist Kim Young-hie opined in right-of-center JoongAng
Ilbo (08/14): "(Current) International sanctions against North Korea
are much more powerful and effective than any other sanctions in the
past. ... North Korea's invitations of former President Clinton and
Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun are related to this grave
situation. ... What matters is moderating the intensity of
sanctions. It is time to calculate accurately to what extent we
should put pressure on North Korea in order to maximize the effects
of sanctions and to bring the North back to the Six-Party Talks,
while making the country deliver on its agreements. Otherwise,
North Korea will become desperate - like a mouse chased by a cat -
and resort to self-destructive acts, including nuclear and missile
tests. Now that U.S. -North Korea relations have entered a new
phase, the release of the Hyundai Asan employee may serve as a
significant breakthrough in inter-Korean relations."
STEPHENS