Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL309
2009-02-27 07:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION IN SEOUL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0309 0580755 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 270755Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3413 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8177 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5392 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9231 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5283 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SEOUL 000309
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
Global Economy
"Bracing for Global Protectionism"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (02/27): "Experts warn that
the spread of protectionism will hamper global economic recovery.
Protectionism will lead to a vicious cycle of retaliation and
eventually undermine the concerted global effort to overcome the
financial crisis. Protectionism is also raising its ugly head even
in the financial sector. Advanced economies are reluctant to take
drastic measures to eliminate protectionism for fear that their
massive financial bailouts will feed insolvent foreign companies.
The ROKG should take advantage of its co-chairing of the G20 meeting
this year and do everything it can to take the initiative in setting
the agenda and create a atmosphere conducive to removing
protectionist trade barriers."
North Korea
"The Only Way Out"
Senior Columnist Kim Young-hie opined in right-of-center JoongAng
Ilbo: "There are two ways for North Korea to become rich by
launching a 'satellite,' which is just another name the communist
state uses for a missile. First, it can earn dollars selling
missiles to other countries like Iran and Syria. Second, it can
also scare the U.S. with its missile capacity into hurriedly
normalizing ties and accepting Pyongyang's possession of nuclear
weapons. If Washington-Pyongyang relations are normalized, North
Korea thinks that it will be able to collect a huge amount of
dollars from Japan, the EU and international financial institutions.
However, since the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S., whether under a
Republican or a Democratic administration, has made it clear that it
won't accept rogue states trading in weapons of mass destruction.
When it comes to North Korea, Washington is more concerned about
proliferation through exports of nuclear weaponry and missiles than
about the North actually possessing nuclear arms. Pyongyang's plan
to become better off by selling missiles and missile technology
would, in fact, cause the poor country to go bankrupt. Instead of
becoming prosperous by test-launching a satellite, or a missile in
disguise, North Korea will only provide firmer ground for
anti-Pyongyang hardliners in the United States and the ROK to stand
on. It will also give the U.S. a good reason to enhance its missile
defense system."
Stephens
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
Global Economy
"Bracing for Global Protectionism"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (02/27): "Experts warn that
the spread of protectionism will hamper global economic recovery.
Protectionism will lead to a vicious cycle of retaliation and
eventually undermine the concerted global effort to overcome the
financial crisis. Protectionism is also raising its ugly head even
in the financial sector. Advanced economies are reluctant to take
drastic measures to eliminate protectionism for fear that their
massive financial bailouts will feed insolvent foreign companies.
The ROKG should take advantage of its co-chairing of the G20 meeting
this year and do everything it can to take the initiative in setting
the agenda and create a atmosphere conducive to removing
protectionist trade barriers."
North Korea
"The Only Way Out"
Senior Columnist Kim Young-hie opined in right-of-center JoongAng
Ilbo: "There are two ways for North Korea to become rich by
launching a 'satellite,' which is just another name the communist
state uses for a missile. First, it can earn dollars selling
missiles to other countries like Iran and Syria. Second, it can
also scare the U.S. with its missile capacity into hurriedly
normalizing ties and accepting Pyongyang's possession of nuclear
weapons. If Washington-Pyongyang relations are normalized, North
Korea thinks that it will be able to collect a huge amount of
dollars from Japan, the EU and international financial institutions.
However, since the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S., whether under a
Republican or a Democratic administration, has made it clear that it
won't accept rogue states trading in weapons of mass destruction.
When it comes to North Korea, Washington is more concerned about
proliferation through exports of nuclear weaponry and missiles than
about the North actually possessing nuclear arms. Pyongyang's plan
to become better off by selling missiles and missile technology
would, in fact, cause the poor country to go bankrupt. Instead of
becoming prosperous by test-launching a satellite, or a missile in
disguise, North Korea will only provide firmer ground for
anti-Pyongyang hardliners in the United States and the ROK to stand
on. It will also give the U.S. a good reason to enhance its missile
defense system."
Stephens