SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; October 15, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SEOUL 001628 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; October 15, 2009 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs ¶N. Korea Expresses Regret over Flood Deaths JoongAng Ilbo Supreme Court, Constitutional Court in Turf War over Constitutional Court Law Revision Dong-a Ilbo Nationwide "Zero Food Waste Campaign" Launched Hankyoreh Shinmun The Title, "Administrative City," Disappears from Sejong City Construction Site Segye Ilbo Banks Still "Stingy" with Loans to Low-income Households DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- North Korea expressed "regrets" over the death of six ROK citizens in a flash flood caused by its sudden discharge of dam water and offered condolences to their bereaved families during yesterday's working-level, inter-Korean talks. The ROKG accepted this as an apology. (All) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- On Oct. 13, the U.S. reserved its judgment on whether North Korea's recent short-range-missile tests violated UN Security Council resolutions. Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley was quoted as reiterating Washington's position during a regular briefing that, "We're interested in seeing North Korea recommit to its obligations that it's made in the past few years." (Chosun) Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, meanwhile, said in Beijing yesterday: "The U.S. will not entertain direct negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea, absent a Six-Party commitment." (Chosun, Segye, KBS) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -N. Korea -------------- Conservative Chosun Ilbo ran an inside-page report saying that the U.S. has reserved its judgment on whether North Korea's recent short-range-missile tests violated UN Security Council resolutions. Chosun quoted a senior State Department official as telling reporters on Oct. 12 that the USG is still "thinking about the matter," adding: "Whether the North violated UNSC resolutions will be determined based on an analysis of aspects including how far the missiles flew." The Chosun report also noted press remarks by Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley, in which he reiterated Washington's position: "We're interested in seeing North Korea recommit to its obligations that it's made in the past few years." 
 Conservative Chosun and Segye Ilbo and state-run KBS quoted Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as saying in Beijing yesterday: "The U.S. will not entertain direct negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea, absent a Six-Party commitment." All ROK media gave front-page play to North Korea's expression SEOUL 00001628 002 OF 004 yesterday of "regrets" over the death of six ROK citizens in a flash flood caused by its sudden discharge of dam water and the North's offer of condolences to their bereaved families. The ROKG was reported as having accepted this as an apology. Newspapers carried the following headlines: "Thawing Inter-Korean Relations... Will the Rest of Issues, Including Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mt. Kumgang Tours, be Plain Sailing?" (conservative Chosun Ilbo); "Is It Sincere Apology or Pretense?" (right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo); "Minimum Sincerity from N. Korea ... Generous Interpretation by ROK" (conservative Dong-a Ilbo); and "N. Korea's About-Face Aimed at Removing 'Obstacle' to Talks with U.S." (moderate Hankook Ilbo) OPINIONS/EDITORIALS -------------- READY TO RETAKE WARTIME CONTROL? (Dong-a Ilbo, October 15, 2009, page 39) On April 17, 2012, the ROK will take over wartime operational control for the first time in 62 years and the Combined Forces Command will disappear. President Rhee Syng-man gave such control to the Commander in Chief of the UN Forces in Korea, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, immediately after North Korea invaded the ROK on June 25, ¶1950. Without the blood of soldiers from 16 countries under the U.N. flag, including those from the U.S., the Republic of Korea would not be free today. The problem is the date of the control's handover: April 17, 2012. It is doubtful whether ROK forces are sufficiently prepared to take the lead in times of war after the Combined Forces Command is dissolved. North Korea cares nothing for its people and is only interested in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles. Even with Seoul's modern weapons, they cannot counter Pyongyang's "asymmetric arms" such as nuclear weapons or missiles. Without the intelligence and nuclear umbrella of the U.S., the ROK cannot feel safe. North Korea has sets a goal of becoming a militant country by 2012 and has never given up its desire to communize the Korean Peninsula. The ROK will hold a presidential election at the end of 2012, and confusion in the election campaign, conflict and divided opinion is likely. The relocation of the U.S. base in Seoul's Yongsan district to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which will occur at the same time as the disbanding of the Combined Forces Command, will be delayed for more than two years. The defense budget was supposed to be raised 9.9 percent per year in the plan "Defense Reform 2020" set by the previous Roh Moo-hyun Administration, but has been cut 3.8 percent in next year's budget. Since securing the budget will be more difficult, a series of plans to beef up national defense in preparation for the return of wartime operational command are expected to be interrupted. The ROK has just half of the needed missiles for the Aegis warship Sejong. The SM-6, which will occupy a third of a vertical launch pad, is still under development. Cutting-edge F-15K fighter jets that cost 100 billion won (85.9 million dollars) each are also not fully operational. It was inappropriate for the Roh Administration, in its bilateral defense talks in February 2007, to set the date for change of wartime command to April 17 as if the ROK had been liberated from U.S. colonial rule. The ROK handed over operational command to the U.S. July 14, 1950, after the Korean War broke out.* The Roh Administration understood that wartime operational command was a matter of survival and even more critical than sovereignty and independence. This is why Seoul must retake the command only after it is prepared enough to counter Pyongyang's provocation alone. Endangering national security to save face and pride is foolish. Just 30 months remain before Seoul takes over wartime command. (Ed. Note: This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is similar to the Korean version. SEOUL 00001628 003 OF 004 *The journalist is saying that the Roh Administration specifically chose the date April 17 (4/17) for the proposed return of operational control as a symbolic date because it is the numeric reverse of the date July 14, 1950 (7/14),when the ROK turned over operational command to the U.S. after the Korean War broke out.) FEATURES -------------- NASA PREDICTS LINKS WITH KOREA SPACE PROGRAM (JoongAng Daily, October 14, 2009, page 2) Yonhap News DAEJEON - Korea has the potential to become an important partner in efforts aimed at advancing exploration and technology for the peaceful use of space, the head of the U.S. aerospace administration said yesterday. National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) chief Charles Bolden, Jr. said at the International Astronautical Congress in Daejeon, located 164 kilometers (102 miles) south of Seoul, that the country has made noticeable strides with its robust space program by building satellites and launching a rocket into orbit. He said that future cooperative endeavors could take place in such areas as lunar exploration, satellites and the field of aeronautics. The remarks come after President Lee Myung-bak said on Monday that Seoul is seeking to forge cooperative relations with top space exploration leaders like the United States and is considering a move to take part in a U.S.-led lunar exploration project. "NASA is hopeful of enhancing bilateral cooperation that can make South Korea a vital partner along with other countries," Bolden told reporters. He did not go into details, but said that new cooperative endeavors can be explored in a wide range of promising areas along with traditional fields where two-way exchanges have taken place in the past. At present, NASA exchanges data and information on Earth observation that is used to monitor climate change and weather conditions. The former Marine Corps major general said Washington is waiting for the release of the so-called Augustine Report, which will highlight the need for international cooperation in future space endeavors as a way to defray skyrocketing costs and spread out risks. Bolden said that the United States has held talks on future cooperation with "non-traditional space partners" such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand to discern the positions of these countries. He also stressed that while policy makers in Seoul believe they are far behind technologically, there are not many countries that can build satellites and launch space vehicles from their own soil. Bolden was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama as NASA administrator earlier this year. NASA ADMINISTRATOR: "COOPERATION WITH THE ROK COULD TAKE PLACE IN LUNAR EXPLORATION, SPACE VEHICLES" (Chosun Ilbo, October 14, 2009, Page 8) By Reporter Lee Young-wan from Daejeon "The ROK will cooperate with the U.S. in many areas, such as manned lunar exploration projects and climate observation. Cooperation could also take place in the field of space vehicles." SEOUL 00001628 004 OF 004 National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) chief Charles Bolden made the statement to reporters at the International Astronautical Congress in Daejeon on October 13. He added, "The ROK's satellite technologies, which I saw during a visit to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI),were very impressive. Once the U.S. Administration decides its policy direction on space development, we plan to actively push for cooperation (with the ROK.)" ¶Q. How will NASA cooperate with the ROK on the ROK's lunar exploration? "It is natural to cooperate with the ROK because it is a scientifically advanced nation. (Officials at) NASA and KARI are already seeking specific ways to cooperate by visiting each other." ¶Q. In what field is it possible to cooperate? "During this visit, I checked what KARI has done so far. An agreement of mutual cooperation in such areas as observation of global climate change will be signed at the working level tonight." Mr. Bolden reportedly agreed with KARI President Lee Joo-jin on the afternoon of October 12 to push for 24 cooperative projects in five fields - earth science, space science, space exploration, space communications, and aeronautics - starting next year. ¶Q. Japan developed its space vehicle with the help of NASA. Can NASA cooperate with the ROK in the field of space vehicles? "We will first actively push for cooperation in science fields, such as earth observation. However, when the U.S. administration's policy on space development is decided upon, we could seek cooperation in the space vehicle field." ¶Q. What is necessary for the ROK to develop in the field of space exploration? "The role of a leader is very important in space exploration. The ROK is fortunate in that President Lee Myung-bak expressed interest in space exploration yesterday. When meeting with President Obama, President Lee mentioned space development many times and said that the ROK is at an elementary level, but (I believe that) that is too modest. The ROK has already made noticeable strides." Mr. Bolden has a deep relationship with the ROK. He said, "When it comes to peace and space development, this is my first visit to the ROK, but I came to the ROK before for military reasons." The former Marine Corps major general noted that he participated in the ROK-U.S. joint military drills in Pohang about a decade ago. (Editor's Note: The same story was also carried by Hankyoreh Shinmun under the headline of "NASA Hopeful of Cooperating with ROK on Lunar Exploration." The article reports: "National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chief Charles Bolden, Jr. made a rare appearance at the International Astronautical Congress, garnering attention from the international space industry, businesses and scholars. This event recorded the largest attendance in its sixty-year history apparently due to the involvement of the head of the U.S. aerospace administration. Bolden said that NASA puts importance on environment and climate change, adding that the Administration will enhance cooperation with the ROK. He noted that NASA has a particular interest in education. Bolden went on to say that NASA will assist the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in developing aeronautics and space educational programs so that students can develop their dreams and passions. The Augustine Commission is an advisory committee under U.S. President Obama led by Norm Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp. The Commission is exploring new possibilities for U.S STEPHENS