Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL256
2009-02-19 05:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION IN SEOUL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0256 0500540 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 190540Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3292 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8126 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5364 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9216 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5257 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SEOUL 000256
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/PD FOR SWALKER, EAP/P, EAP/K
STATE PASS USDA ELECTRONICALLY FOR FAX/ITP SCHEIKH
STATE PASS USTR FOR RCASSIDY
USDOC FOR 4430/IEP/OPB/EAP/JDONIUS
TREASURY FOR OASIA/MGREWE
CINCPAC FOR J-74
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US KPAO KMDR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IN SEOUL
Subject: Media Reaction; Seoul
Secretary Clinton's Trip to Asia
"Secretary Clinton's Visit to Seoul Should Enhance ROK-U.S.
Cooperation"
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (02/19): "North Korea is gearing
up to fire a Taepodong-2 missile despite the concerns and warnings
of the international community. The ROK and the U.S. should send a
strong message against North Korea's provocative behavior during
Secretary Clinton's visit. The ROK and the U.S., despite their
colorful rhetoric about strengthening bilateral ties in a
forward-looking manner, have had many differences of opinion and
conflicts over major pending issues. We hope that this meeting will
lead the two nations to expand their common ground on important
bilateral issues, including the ratification of the KORUS FTA and
mutual cooperation on the international stage."
Afghanistan
"Don't Even Think About Dispatching Troops to Afghanistan"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (02/19): "The U.S.
decision to send more troops to Afghanistan might lead the country
to repeat the same mistake it did in its failed occupation of Iraq.
The Afghanistan problem cannot be resolved by taking the
ill-considered position that more troops should be dispatched to
stabilize a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. If the U.S.
ultimately aims to leave al-Qaeda isolated and defenseless, it
should broadly reexamine its existing strategy and seek an
international consensus. It would be wrong (for the U.S.) to simply
increase its military presence in Afghanistan and ask for additional
troops from other countries, without thinking hard about what is a
reasonable and effective Afghanistan policy. The ROKG is reviewing
ways to quadruple the number of its Provincial Reconstruction Team
(PRT) personnel in Afghanistan to some 100. However, this should
never pave the way for the ROK to dispatch its troops to
Afghanistan."
Stephens