SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 24, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SEOUL 001999 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KS US SUBJECT: SEOUL - PRESS BULLETIN; December 24, 2009 TOP HEADLINES -------------- Chosun Ilbo, All TVs President Lee Vows to Eradicate Corruption in Local Governments JoongAng Ilbo Universities to be Banned from Taking into Account Records of Applicants' English Tests, such as TOEFL and TOEIC, and Prizes They Received in Various Academic Contests in Admission Process Dong-a Ilbo Main Opposition Democratic Party Chairman Embroiled in Graft Scandal Hankook Ilbo ROKG's Tax Reform Measures Approved by National Assembly "in Tatters" Hankyoreh Shinmun Economic Activity Brisk in N. Korea-China Border Region; Signs Abound that N. Korea will Announce Economic Reform Measures Early Next Year Segye Ilbo ROKG Rolls Up Sleeves to Eradicate Abortion Seoul Shinmun ROKG's Policy on Homeless People Adrift DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS -------------- President Barack Obama, via a State Department official, recently sent a letter to an ROK singer who is helping North Korean defectors, saying that the U.S. is deeply concerned about North Korea's human rights situation. The letter was sent in reply to one that the singer had sent to the U.S. President in mid-June regarding North Korean human rights. (JoongAng) INTERNATIONAL NEWS -------------- According to the Voice of America (VOA),North Korea sold about 3,400 tons of weapons to the Democratic Republic of Congo in January, where fierce fighting continues between the government and insurgents. (Chosun) According to the Kyodo News Agency, 12 North Koreans defected to the ROK from Russia in September with the help of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The 12 included North Koreans who worked at a timber company in Russia's Amur Province. (Dong-a, Seoul) MEDIA ANALYSIS -------------- -N. Korea -------------- Conservative Chosun Ilbo replayed a Dec. 23 report by the Voice of America (VOA) that North Korea sold about 3,400 tons of weapons to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in January, where fierce fighting continues between the government and insurgents. According to the VOA report quoting a UN official investigating the DRC, a considerable amount of the weapons went to Congolese insurgents or nearby countries. Conservative Segye Ilbo noted a Dec. 23 report by China's official SEOUL 00001999 002 OF 002 Xinhua News Agency quoting Russia's Chief Delegate to the Six-Party Talks Alexei Borodavkin as telling reporters yesterday that the stalled Six-Party Talks will resume early next year. STEPHENS