PRESS BULLETIN - February 19, 2009

UNCLAS SEOUL 000258 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/K, EAP/PD, INR/EAP/K AND INR/IL/P TREASURY FOR OASIA/WINGLE USDOC FOR 4430/IEP/OPB/EAP/WGOLICKE STATE PASS USDA ELECTRONICALLY FOR FAS/ITP STATE PASS DOL/ILAB SUDHA HALEY STATE PASS USTR FOR IVES/WEISEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL MARR ECON KS US SUBJECT: PRESS BULLETIN - February 19, 2009 Opinions/Editorials ¶1. Don't Even Think About Dispatching Troops to Afghanistan (Hankyoreh Shinmun, February 19, 2009, Page 23) ¶2. Secretary of State Clinton's Visit to Seoul Should Serve to Enhance ROK-U.S. Cooperation (Hankook Ilbo, February 19, 2009, Page 39) Features ¶3. Korea Hopes for Clear Message from Clinton Visit (Chosun Ilbo, February 19, 2009, Page 6) ¶4. Secretary Clinton to Be Treated as State Guest; North Korean Nuclear Issue Expected to Be High on the Agenda of Luncheon Meeting with President Lee (JoongAng Ilbo, February 19, 2009, Page 6) Top Headlines Chosun Ilbo Taekwang Industrial Chairman Park Yeon-cha, Arrested on Charges of Tax Evasion and Bribery, Admits: "I Gave Hundreds of Millions of Won to Four People, Including Three Politicians" JoongAng Ilbo, All TVs Mourners of All Stripes Gather at Cathedral to Pay Last Respects to Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan Dong-a Ilbo Late Cardinal Backed Gwangju Pro-Democracy Movement Hankook Ilbo ROK, U.S. to Hold Annual Joint Defense Exercise Early Next Month; Exercise Period to be Doubled to Brace for a Missile Launch by North Korea Hankyoreh Shinmun, Segye Ilbo, Seoul Shinmun Manipulation Suspected in School Test Results Domestic Developments ¶1. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will come to Seoul today for a two-day visit. (All) Since her visit comes amid growing tension between the two Koreas, the ROKG hopes that she will deliver a strong message to North Korea. An ROKG official was quoted as saying yesterday: "As she understands our situation well, we assume that Secretary Clinton will be clearer in making remarks on North Korean issues." (Chosun) ¶2. Secretary Clinton, meanwhile, said in a Feb. 18 interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun that North Korea's missile issue could be discussed at the Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. (Chosun, Dong-a, Hankook, Segye, Seoul, VoiceofPeople) ¶3. ROK Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said yesterday that North Korea's preparations to test-fire a missile could be completed in two or three weeks. (JoongAng, Segye, Seoul,) ¶4. According to the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC),ROK and U.S. troops will hold their annual joint exercises in multiple locations throughout the ROK from March 9 to 20. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis of the U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet will participate in the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercises. (Dong-a, Hankook, Segye, Seoul) Media Analysis Secretary Clinton's Visit to the ROK The ROK media gave prominent coverage to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's arrival in Seoul today for a two-day visit. Most media predicted that she will receive an unusually enthusiastic welcome based on her status as a well-known former First Lady and political heavyweight who once ran for U.S. President. She is scheduled to meet tomorrow morning with ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, and then, in a break from tradition, with President Lee Myung-bak. Media commentators also noted that Secretary Clinton is expected to be guarded by members of the ROK's Presidential Security Service, instead of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's security service unit usually assigned to protect ministerial-level officials from abroad. Conservative Chosun Ilbo noted that Secretary Clinton's meetings with ROK officials will be the first big diplomatic event between Seoul and Washington since the inauguration of the Obama Administration. Chosun went on to say: "Her visit, in particular, carries great significance since it comes amid growing tension between the two Koreas. The ROKG hopes that she will deliver a strong message to North Korea." Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo, meanwhile, expected that the North Korean nuclear issue will be top of the agenda for the luncheon meeting between President Lee and Secretary Clinton. Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized: "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 the bilateral alliance in a forward-looking manner, have had many conflicts and differences of opinion over major pending issues. Seoul will reportedly give Secretary Clinton head-of-state level treatment, including an unusual invitation to a luncheon meeting with President Lee at the Blue House. 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." Most of the ROK media also gave wide attention to Secretary Clinton's statement during a Feb. 18 interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun that North Korea's missile issue could be discussed at the Six-Party Talks to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. President Obama Authorizes More Troops for Afghanistan Most of the ROK media gave inside-page play to President Barack Obama's Feb. 17 approval to adding some 17,000 U.S. troops for the war in Afghanistan. Conservative Chosun Ilbo, in particular, noted Secretary Clinton's press remarks in Japan stressing "Japan's responsibility" in Afghanistan, and speculated that she might ask Seoul for aid during her visit to the ROK. Chosun headlined its story: "Obama's War Has Begun; U.S. Troops Will Not Win the Afghan War Unless They Win the Hearts of Afghan People." Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized: "The U.S.'s decision to send more troops to Afghanistan might lead it 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." Opinions/Editorials Don't Even Think About Dispatching Troops to Afghanistan (Hankyoreh Shinmun, February 19, 2009, Page 23) President Barack Obama yesterday approved adding some 17,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the first move to increase the presence of the U.S. military in Afghanistan, which he promised in an election campaign. If the new forces are dispatched by this summer, U.S. forces in Afghanistan will total over 50,000. The U.S.' hasty addition of troops in Afghanistan would lead the country to repeat the same mistake of its failed occupation in Iraq. First, the objective is ambiguous. 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 success and failure of the existing strategy and seek international consent. Particularly, the U.S. should not try to squash Taliban which is an indigenous political power by force of arms. The U.S. should not increase the presence of troops in Afghanistan and ask for additional deployment from other countries, without thinking hard about what is the reasonable and effective Afghanistan policy. More regrettable is the attitude of some ruling party members in Korea. The Grand National Party reportedly prepared documents detailing the ROK's prior review on the possibility of dispatching the ROK soldiers to Afghanistan. Legislator Gong Sung-jin said they were not official but maintained that the ROK could ask the U.S. for a state-of-the-art weapon in return for dispatch of its military forces. It is absurd to attempt to outdo the North in inter-Korean arms race under the precondition of sending ROK troops. The ROKG is reviewing ways to increase the number of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) personnel operating in Afghanistan three or four-fold. However, this should never pave the way for the ROK to dispatch ROK forces. Additional deployment of PRT personnel should be prudently determined considering local conditions and demands of Afghanistan. We cannot let ourselves experience another mishap such as the Taliban's kidnapping of 23 Koreans in July 2007. The first diplomatic meeting between the ROK and U.S. is held in Seoul tomorrow since the inauguration of the Obama Administration. Regarding North Korean nuclear issues, the two countries should embody a comprehensive negotiation framework capable of elevating the Six-Party Talks to a higher level. The ROK should urge the U.S. not to repeat mistakes it made in Iraq and see to it that there will not be any dispatch of ROK troops. Secretary of State Clinton's Visit to Seoul Should Serve to Enhance ROK-U.S. Cooperation (Hankook Ilbo, February 19, 2009, Page 39) U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Seoul today amid reports of North Korea's preparations for a long-range missile launch and heightened tension between the two Koreas. Although the visit is part of her tour of four Asian nations, her visit, which comes at a critical moment, carries much significance and raises high expectations. The ROK and the U.S. immediately need to enhance bilateral cooperation based on the same perception of North Korea's missile test preparations and possible military provocation near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea. In spite of the concerns and warnings of the international community, North Korea is gearing up to fire a Taepodong-2 missile disguised as an artificial satellite. During Secretary Clinton's visit to Seoul, the ROK and the U.S. should send a strong message against North Korea's provocative behavior. Secretary Clinton has already warned during her first stop in Japan that the North's missile launch would be very unhelpful in advancing the U.S.-North Korea relations. The ROK and the U.S. also need to make it clear that if the North fulfills its promises and abides by international norms, it will be guaranteed a regime survival and receive various aids. Prior to her excursion through Asia, Secretary Clinton said in a speech that if North Korea is genuinely prepared to eliminate their nuclear weapons program, the Obama Administration will be willing to normalize bilateral relations. This is one step further from the position of the Bush Administration that diplomatic normalization should come after North Korea's nuclear dismantlement, and it could produce subtle conflicts with President Lee's "Denuclearization, Opening and Vision 3000" policy. In order to prevent any possible misunderstanding, there must be sufficient discussions during Secretary Clinton's visit. Then, we would be able to block Pyongyang's attempt to engage only Washington while sidelining Seoul and seek a chance to restore inter-Korean relations. Despite their colorful rhetoric about the forward-looking enhancement of the alliance, the ROK and the U.S. have had many differences of opinion and conflicts over major pending issues. It is true that this could be more likely than in any other government because the Lee Myung-bak and Obama Administrations have different inclinations. Seoul will reportedly give Secretary Clinton a head-of-state level treatment, including an unusual invitation to a luncheon meeting with President Lee at the Blue House. We hope that through this meeting, the two nations will expand their common ground on important bilateral issues, such as the ratification of the ROK-U.S. FTA and mutual cooperation on the international stage. Features Korea Hopes for Clear Message from Clinton Visit (Chosun Ilbo, February 19, 2009, Page 6) By reporter Lim Min-hyuk U.S. Secretary of State Clinton is expected to deliver a clear message to North Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day visit, her meetings with the ROK officials marking the first big diplomatic event between Seoul and Washington since the inauguration of the Obama Administration. Her visit carries significance since it comes amid growing tension between the two Koreas. The ROKG is anticipating what message Clinton will deliver. She is expected to use direct rhetoric to dispel concerns regarding 'the U.S.' direct talks with North Korea while bypassing the ROK' and 'the U.S.' recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power'. An ROKG official said on Feb. 18, "Since Secretary Clinton understands our situation well, we assume that she will be clearer about North Korean issues." Another official also said, "Secretary Clinton has already warned against the North's preparations for missile launch but every word she speaks in Seoul would be meaningful." In Japan, the first stopover of her overseas tour, Clinton reassured the Japanese that their concerns matter to the U.S government. In a meeting with families of the Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea, she said, "The issue of the Japanese abductees is part of the Six-Party Talks". And after talks with her Japanese counterpart, she said, "Prime Minister Taro Aso will be the first guest to the Obama White House." This remark apparently quelled concerns over 'Japan passing' meaning U.S. policy discussions going on without much discussion with Japan. An ROKG official said, "The U.S. is well aware that due to the Bush administration's one-sided diplomacy, its allies gave the U.S. a cold stare. Therefore, during her current tour, Secretary Clinton is focusing on caring for allies." Such reassurances do not come free. Japan has already promised to host an international conference on the stabilization of Pakistan, one of President Barack Obama's top priorities. Seoul is also expected to offer greater support for Afghanistan to Secretary Clinton. An ROKG official said, "On Feb. 18, the U.S. approved adding U.S. troops in Afghanistan and things are getting tougher." Secretary Clinton set 'women' as a sub-theme of her visit. She is expected to hold discussions on Feb. 20 at Ewha University with women legislators, women leaders in political, economical and cultural arenas and 2,000 students. An official from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said, "This will be an event showing 'soft power diplomacy' the U.S. government seeks. Secretary Clinton to Be Treated as State Guest; North Korean Nuclear Issue Expected to Be High on the Agenda of Luncheon Meeting with President Lee (JoongAng Ilbo, February 19, 2009, Page 6) By Reporters Kang Chang-ho and Chung Yong-soo Secretary Clinton visits Seoul today. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive at Seoul Airport in Seongnam on the late afternoon of February 19 and start a one-night, two-day itinerary in the ROK. The ROKG is paying particular attention to her visit by elevating the protocol and security service for Secretary Clinton based on her status as a well-known former U.S. first lady and political heavyweight who once ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination for U.S. President. First lady-level reception ROK Ambassador to the U.S. Han Duk-soo will greet Secretary Clinton at the airport when she arrives along with an official entourage of eight members, including Jeffrey Bader, a senior director at the National Security Council, and Paul J. Selva, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This is an unusually enthusiastic welcome, considering that a minister-level official from overseas is greeted by a bureau chief at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She will have a luncheon meeting with President Lee on February 20. The meeting with President Lee is highly unusual because the President rarely has a one-on-one lunch with a minister-level official from abroad. When Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone visited Seoul on February 11, he paid a courtesy call to President Lee but did not dine with him. A foreign ministry official said, "Because it is the first visit since the U.S. administration has changed, we thought that a brief meeting would not be enough and so we arranged a luncheon," adding, "We also considered the fact that during her visit to Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso presided over the welcoming dinner." Agenda of the visit At meetings with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and President Lee, the North Korean nuclear issue is expected to top the agenda. A senior government official said that Secretary Clinton will express concerns over North Korea's missile test preparations and reaffirm the previous position "not to recognize the North as a nuclear state." The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on February 18 that Secretary Clinton expressed willingness in Tokyo to "discuss the North Korean missile issue at the Six-Party Talks aimed at resolving the North Korean nuclear issue." There is also a possibility that she may extend a formal invitation to President Lee. Since the ROKG has already told the U.S., "We hope that there will be reciprocal visits between Presidents Lee and Barack Obama within this year," Secretary Clinton might give an answer. As for the ROK-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, a matter of great interest, Secretary Clinton is only expected to take a principled stance. The ROKG plans to first propose measures to expand its contribution to Afghanistan but to avoid substantial discussions about troop dispatch. A foreign ministry official noted, "Given Secretary Clinton's stature, they will exchange opinions about the Obama Administration's Korean Peninsula policy principles and its basic perception of the region in a free manner, rather than discuss specific pending issues based on previously set agenda." Meeting with female lawmakers at Ewha Secretary Clinton will meet women lawmakers, including the Grand National Party's Cho Yoon-sun, the Democratic Party's Choo Mi-ae, Choi Young-hee and Kim Yoo-jung and the Liberty Forward Party's Park Sun-young, at Ewha Womans' University on the afternoon of February ¶19. Rep. Cho said, "I plan to ask her how to overcome her difficulties as a female politician." Rep. Choo stated, "I plan to urge her to give priority to the North Korean nuclear issue." In political circles, there was speculation that Secretary Clinton might meet with former Chairwoman of the Grand National Party Park Geun-hye, but the U.S. Embassy in Seoul denied it, saying, "There is no such plan." After the meeting, Secretary Clinton will give a speech to about 2,000 students. An Embassy official explained, "Ewha Womans' University has a sister-school relationship with Secretary Clinton's alma mater, Wellesley College. A plan to confer an honorary doctorate on Secretary Clinton was once reviewed, but it was not realized due to insufficient time for preparation. After her 20-hour stay in the ROK, Secretary Clinton will fly to Beijing. Stephens 1