SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; November 25, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 001862 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; November 25, 2009 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo Examples of Local Government Spending Expose Wasteful Use of Taxpayers' Money JoongAng Ilbo, Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, All TVs President Lee will Apologize for Flip-flop on Sejong City Hankyoreh Shinmun Research Institutes: "Relocation to Sejong City will be Difficult Unless Relevant Government Agencies Move, Too" Segye Ilbo Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission Seeks Authority to Trace Bank Accounts Seoul Shinmun Rapid Increase in Accidents Involving Elderly Drivers DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) decided yesterday to oppose the ROKG's plan to redeploy troops to Afghanistan. (Chosun, Hankook, Hankyoreh) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said on Nov. 23: "We are focused on resuming the Six-Party Talks. That's really what all our energies and all of our attention is devoted to now. That's the purpose of Ambassador Bosworth's trip (to North Korea)." (Hankook, Seoul) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -N. Korea -------------- Moderate Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Shinmun noted Nov. 23 press remarks by State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly, in which he said in response to the North Korean media's recent call to replace the armistice with a peace treaty: "We are focused on resuming the Six-Party Talks. That's really what all our energies and all of our attention is devoted to now. That's the purpose of Ambassador Bosworth's trip (to North Korea). We don't anticipate discussing these kinds of issues within the context of his visit." -President Obama's Afghan Decision -------------- Newspapers carried inside-page reports quoting White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs as saying on Nov. 24: "After completing a rigorous final meeting, President Obama has the information he wants and needs to make his decision, and he will announce that decision within days." Conservative Chosun Ilbo wrote in the headline: "Obama Likely to Send Around 30,000 More Troops to Afghanistan." Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun's headline read: "Obama to Announce New Afghanistan Strategy Dec. 1; He's Likely to Unveil Not Only Afghan Troop Increases but Also Exit Strategy." OPINIONS/EDITORIALS -------------- SEOUL 00001862 002 OF 002 BIG DEAL NEEDED BETWEEN ROK AND U.S. (Dong-a Ilbo, November 25, Page 34: Excerpts) By Kim Hee-sang, Chairman of the Korean Institute for Security Affairs Today, we face daunting and complicated challenges, such as North Korea's nuclear threat, as well as peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula. Discussions have been underway to restore the U.S.-ROK alliance, which has suffered a setback due to (effects from) a decade of the "Sunshine Policy," and to develop it into a strategic alliance. However, the ROK and the U.S. are working on dismantling the ROK-US Combined Forces Command. Many Koreans are concerned that a transfer of (wartime) operational control to the ROK will jeopardize security of their country. We pin high hopes on next year's ROK-U.S. meetings of foreign and defense ministers. The military alliance is a special relationship that requires deep understanding and strong friendship from each other. We should reflect on what we expect from the U.S. and what contributions the U.S. wants from us. President Obama confirmed again the strategic value of the ROK-U.S. alliance during his visit to the ROK. An alliance entails not only reciprocal benefits but also responsibilities and burdens. The U.S. thinks highly of its alliance with the ROK for which the country fought with blood and sweat. In this sense, the ROK may use its troop deployment to Afghanistan as a strategic opportunity. The ROK may consider expanding the number of troops (it plans) to send to Afghanistan. The ROK needs to make a "big deal" with the U.S. The ROK-U.S. alliance should be more robust than North Korea-China relations. We should make sure that the U.S. puts as much importance on its relations with the ROK as (it does) on its relations with China. President Obama said during his trip to the ROK that he is committed to denuclearizing North Korea. At the June Summit, he also shared his hope for the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula. The ROK and the U.S. should closely cooperate to achieve a strategic goal of the peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula. This will pave the way for a bright future for the Korean Peninsula. STEPHENS