SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 21, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 SEOUL 001980 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 21, 2009 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo Senior Presidential Secretary for Education Lee Joo-ho Vows to Ban Private Cram Schools from Offering Late-Night Classes JoongAng Ilbo, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun, All TVs "Worst National Assembly Ever;" Budget Bill Passage Still Up in the Air Dong-a Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo Education Ministry Seeks to Hinder Foreign Language High School Applicants Who Voluntarily Admit to Studying at Private Education Institutes; Critics Say Voluntary Reporting Makes It Too Easy to Sidestep Latest Rules Hankyoreh Shinmun Main Opposition Democratic Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun Found to Be Present when Former Prime Minister Han Met Local Businessman Who Allegedly Bribed Han for Business Favors DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- According to multiple ROKG sources, the two Koreas held two rounds of s-e-c-r-e-t meetings last month to discuss a possible summit, but failed to reach agreement due to differences over food aid, the North's nuclear issue, and the problem of ROK citizens believed to be held in the North. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankyoreh, Segye) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence, in a Dec. 18 contribution to The Washington Post, said that the North Korean arms shipment seized in Thailand last week was destined for the Middle East. Mr. Blair's reference marked the first public comment by the U.S. administration on the destination of the arms. (Chosun, Dong-a, Segye) North Korea, in a Dec. 19 commentary in the Rodong Shinmun, the North's major newspaper published by the Workers' Party, said that the ROK is not entitled to participate in negotiations on its nuclear program because the ROK has systematically augmented nuclear threats from the U.S. (JoongAng) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -N. Korea -------------- Most ROK media today carried inside-page reports quoting Dennis Blair, Director of National Intelligence, as writing in The Washington Post on Dec. 18 that the North Korean arms shipment seized in Thailand last week was destined for the Middle East. He was further quoted: "Teamwork among different agencies in the U.S. and partners abroad just last week led to the interdiction of a Middle East-bound cargo of North Korean weapons." The media noted that Blair's reference marked the first public comment by the U.S. administration on the destination of the arms and the first official confirmation on the U.S. role in the case. Conservative Chosun Ilbo observed: "Blair did not specify which country the North Korean weapons were bound for. His comment has sparked speculation that the North Korean weapons were headed to Iran." SEOUL 00001980 002 OF 005 Copenhagen Climate Change Conference Yesterday's conclusion of the 15th U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen captured the attention of the ROK media. Most media reported that the historic conference ended with only a nonbinding "Copenhagen Accord," which simply calls for greenhouse gases and other emissions by all nations to be reduced enough to prevent average global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius, without setting specific emissions guidelines for achieving that goal. Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized: "The leaders of the planet were not brave. ... They just dithered, preventing Copenhagen turning into 'Hopenhagen.' ... The 'Copenhagen Accord' is short on substance and is merely a face-saving measure for political leaders. ... Now the homework has been carried over to next year's climate conference in Mexico City. ... Only when all of us take concerted action under the 'Me First' spirit can we save this planet and humanity." Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized: "The U.S. and China are largely to blame for this disappointing result, given that they account for more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. China, which has overtaken the U.S. as the world's biggest CO2 emitter, strongly rejected being included in the list of countries subject to mandatory emissions-reduction targets while stressing the responsibility of advanced nations. ... The U.S., for its part, could not show leadership to persuade developing countries by taking such a lackadaisical attitude as proposing an emissions-reduction target much lower than those of the EU and Japan." OPINIONS/EDITORIALS -------------- "PREEMPTIVE MEASURES NEEDED IN ANTICIPATION OF TOUGHER CARBON REDUCTION RULES" (Chosun Ilbo, December 21, Page 39) "It is highly likely that a global warming pact will be reached before the next climate summit, which will take place in Mexico City next year. The current Kyoto Protocol is set to expire in 2012, and as long as the world does not give up battling global warming, the international community has little choice but to come up with a legally-binding treaty. ... If there is no choice but to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, then it is best to get started as soon as possible. Doing so will allow Korean businesses to get a head start in developing the technologies and building the experience needed to become globally competitive. In order to make this happen, the ROKG must establish a system that will allow businesses to become 'early movers' and take voluntary steps to cut their emissions." MEDIATING THE INTERESTS OF DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING NATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION (Hankyoreh Shinmun, December 21, Page 31) The worst was avoided, but the results are still not enough to give the international community hope. The 2009 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen had set out to search for ways to stop global warming and concluded on Dec. 19 with the Copenhagen Accord. The climate change conference failed to bring about an agreement that binds developed countries to greenhouse gas emission targets. This is why, despite what the U.S., China and UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon are working hard to call a "half victory," voices of disappointment and criticism are being heard throughout the world. The results from the Copenhagen talks are significant as the Kyoto Protocol, which made greenhouse gas reductions mandatory for developed nations, comes to an end in 2012. If steps towards a new agreement to extend the Kyoto Protocol are not made, the international community's commitment to reduce greenhouse gases will virtually collapse by 2013. As a result, the attention of the SEOUL 00001980 003 OF 005 world has been focused on Copenhagen and the leaders of 119 nations in attendance. The U.S. and China are largely to blame for this disappointing result, given that they account for more than 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. China, which has overtaken the U.S. as the world's biggest CO2 emitter, strongly rejected being included in the list of countries subject to mandatory emissions-reduction targets while stressing the responsibility of advanced nations. It makes sense that between developed and developing nations, it is developed nations that must bear greater responsibility for global warming, but it is true that preventing global warming is impossible without a change in China's posture. The U.S., for its part, could not show leadership to persuade developing countries by taking such a lackadaisical attitude as proposing an emissions-reduction target much lower than those of the EU and Japan. There are what could be considered some positive results in the Copenhagen Accord, including the proposal to keep the rise in global temperatures to within two degrees since the Industrial Revolution and the creation of a 100 billion dollar fund to assist poor countries dealing with serious crises due to climate change. However, major nations, including the U.S. and China, must not stop here and should continue to work until the Mexico conference set for next November to reach an agreement with binding force and concrete reduction targets. The ROK, too, which serves as the host for the next G-20 summit next year, must actively contribute to creating a new climate change agreement by mediating the interests of developed and developing nations. (This is a translation provided by the newspaper, and it is identical to the Korean version.) FEATURES -------------- U.S. PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM IN AFGHANISTAN PARTICIPATES IN MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER EXERCISE (Chosun Ilbo, December 21, Page 6) By Correspondent Park Jong-se A car sits riddled by bullets, its windshield shattered. Afghan merchants repair a bicycle and sell carpets nearby in an indifferent manner. On a bazaar street, the wash is hung out to dry between shops with signboards written in the local dari language. Dozens of U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) personnel, escorted by U.S. soldiers, enter the bazaar along with village leaders. A deafening explosion cuts through the air. The bomb: an improvised explosive device (IED) made by the Taliban, the Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan. The U.S. soldiers immediately drop to the ground, ready to shoot. PRT personnel also fall to the ground. A few more IEDs explode. The smell of gunpowder fills the air and thick smoke blankets the surrounding area. "To the left! To the left!" U.S. soldiers had PRT members and village leaders take cover behind a (nearby) shop. An AK-47 rifle shot from the Taliban slices through the air. It is too dangerous to advance along the bazaar street. "Push back!" This is the description of a training exercise that reenacts the Taliban's sudden attacks that plague Afghanistan every day. On December 16, fifty-one PRT personnel from U.S. Departments of Agriculture and State, who will be dispatched to Afghanistan in a month, participated in this intensive training exercise at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana. SEOUL 00001980 004 OF 005 Afghan-Americans wearing wool hats and traditional Islamic clothes played the role of Afghans. However, participants didn't have the slightest idea of what would happen and when. On the roof of a nearby two-story building, instructors filmed and closely observed every move of the PRT personnel. They checked to make sure the participants accurately followed the directions of U.S. soldiers, did not panic amid the explosions, and were putting their hands on the shoulders of those in front of them when moving. John Rothenberg from the U.S. Agency for International Development said that just the sound of a bomb blast set his nerves on edge. Lieutenant Jessica Halladay said that this exercise is aimed at making sure that PRT personnel learn how to act along with soldiers by not panicking in case of an emergency. Captain Trey Wheeler, who returned from Afghanistan a month ago, said with surprise that the exercise is conducted under conditions (similar) to those in Afghanistan. Immediately after PRT members headed to a venue for negotiation, which was their final destination, the bomb went off. And even though they (did eventually) manage to arrive at the negotiating venue, PRT personnel still had to argue with stubborn tribal representatives about their proposal to provide irrigation facilities (within the area). Negotiations stalled when tribal representatives fell into dispute among themselves, with each tribal leader saying that the other leaders would benefit more than they would from the deal. Around eleven o'clock, local representatives put an abrupt end to the negotiations and began to cite the Koran and pray. These all described real circumstances they might encounter in Afghanistan. When the role-playing situation ended, experts, who closely observed the exercise, gave advice: "You should make your sentences short so that they are clearly interpreted." "It is common for Afghan farmers to be late to the negotiating venue by one or two hours." "You should coordinate ideas through a preliminary meeting and then hold a comprehensive meeting." An expert on Afghanistan suddenly (interrupted the debriefing) to quiz a PRT member, "What is the name of the (tribal) leader you just dealt with?" "Sajai... Mahmed..." The PRT member mumbled, (unable to recall the name). When they exited the building after completing the tortuous negotiations, another IED detonated. This training program started this past July around the time U.S. President Barack Obama changed the nature of the war in Afghanistan from a "hard-power" war reliant on U.S. Marine Corps to a "soft-power" war based on Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). Accordingly, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, and Commander of the U.S. Central Command David Petraeus agreed to establish a special program designed to train civilian experts. This was because, with the number of civilian staff increasing, there was a desperate need for coordination between them and U.S. troops. Currently U.S. civilian staff (in Afghanistan only number) about 320 people, but the number (is expected to) increase to an estimated 1,000 in January. Training programs at the MUTC are based on six different scenarios, including those reenacting general negotiations, terror bombings and (other common situations in Afghanistan),ranging from the very basic to the very complex. Ronal Melvin, 63, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who once worked as a PRT member in Iraq, said, "This kind of training is helpful since it teaches you how soldiers communicate and what really happens on the ground." "I SPOKE WITH ROK DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS OVER THE PHONE THIS MORNING ... THE ROK TEAM BEING DISPATCHED TO AFGHANISTAN WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN JANUARY" SEOUL 00001980 005 OF 005 (Chosun Ilbo, December 21, 2009, Page 6) By Correspondent Park Jong-se from MUTC James McKellar, President of McKellar, a private company planning a civilian-military-government joint training program, said, "Training centers are aimed at ensuring that participants are knowledgeable about the organization that they belong to and its roles, and that they work effectively with local residents, local governments, and multinational forces." Below are excerpts from an interview with him. ¶Q. Have the trainings (your company has performed up until now) been effective? ¶A. "Of course, they have. A number of the participants currently being trained have received previous training here (in Muscatatuck) They commented that the training was very helpful for them." ¶Q. What kind of things do civilian staff have to deal with on the ground? ¶A. "In short, they must (be able to) deal with many things simultaneously in a very complicated situation." ¶Q. Can this program be applied to every nation that sends a PRT to Afghanistan? ¶A. "Yes. A civilian-military joint training program is certainly necessary., and we have had discussions with the ROK about this. Next year, the ROK will send a roughly 500-member-strong joint PRT (to Afghanistan) that will include civilians and others from the government and the military and police forces. I talked with ROK Defense Ministry officials over the phone this morning (December 16),and (confirmed that) some of the PRT members being deployed to Afghanistan in January at the earliest will train here (in Muscatatuck)." ¶Q. What business does McKellar usually engage in? ¶A. "We only have ten employees. So far, we have engaged in training civil servants and military staff. In the past, the military did not understand the civilian staff, and the civilian staff did not understand the military." STEPHENS