SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS SEOUL 001942 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION Subject: Media Reaction; Seoul East Asia and Pacific: DPRK, Six-Party Talks "DELAYED RESUMPTION OF SIX-PARTY TALKS WILL INCREASE N. KOREA'S SUFFERING" Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (12/11): "We cannot give good marks to North Korea, which did not clearly promise to return to the Six-Party Talks. If we must talk about the achievement of this dialogue, it seems to be that the U.S. and North Korea exchanged their true intentions for the first time. ... If North Korea acknowledged the need for the Six-Party Talks, it has no reason to drag its feet. The later the North rejoins the Six-Party Talks, the harsher the suffering caused by the UN sanctions." "EVEN THOUGH OUTCOME OF BOSWORTH'S N. KOREA VISIT IS DISAPPOINTING" Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (12/11): "We don't think that Ambassador Bosworth's visit to North Korea was meaningless. The fact that the two sides have shared the importance of implementing the September 19 Joint Statement, which provides the raison d'tre of the Six-Party Talks, represents a great step forward toward restarting the Six-Party Talks. As Ambassador Bosworth put it, if the two sides had candid and sincere talks, their mutual trust could also be deepened further. We hope that this (momentum) will lead the U.S. and North Korea to reach agreement to resume the Six-Party Talks as early as possible through ... further dialogue." "LEE ADMINISTRATION MUST TAKE FIRST STEP TOWARD DIALOGUE WITH N. KOREA" Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (12/11): "Since the U.S. has demonstrated its determination for negotiations, it is North Korea's turn to make a decision. More than anything else, there is no reason for the North to delay its return to the Six-Party Talks. Any issues of concern - whether it is a peace treaty, normalization of ties or economic aid - can be discussed only when the Six-Party Talks resume." STEPHENS