Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL339
2009-03-04 08:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
PRESS BULLETIN - March 4, 2009
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #0339/01 0630850 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 040850Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3472 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8197 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC//DDI/OEA// RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DB-Z//
UNCLAS SEOUL 000339
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 - March 4, 2009
Features
UNCLAS SEOUL 000339
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 - March 4, 2009
Features
1.USTR Hints at Reexamination of the KORUS FTA
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 4, 2009, Page 6)
Top Headlines
Chosun Ilbo
Dow Jones Industrial Finishes Below 7,000, 12-Year Low, Sending
Global Economy into "Second Financial Shock"
JoongAng Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Segye Ilbo,
Seoul Shinmun, All TVs
National Assembly Fails to Pass Bill to Ease Restrictions
on Non-financial Businesses' Investment in Local Lenders
Dong-a Ilbo
National Intelligence Service Conducts Sweeping Reshuffle
of Senior Officials
Hankyoreh Shinmun
Justice Minister: "Anyone Using Violence at National Assembly Will
Face Stern Legal Action"
Domestic Developments
1. The USTR, in a report delivered to Congress last week, said that
the Bush Administration left a legacy of numerous pending free trade
agreements and negotiations and that the Obama Administration will
conduct extensive outreach and discourse with the public on whether
these agreements appropriately advance the interests of the U.S. and
its trading partners. To some this indicates that the Obama
Administration might conduct an overall review of the KORUS FTA.
(Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, all TVs)
2. The ROK, during a March 3 meeting of the UN Human Rights Council
in Geneva, Switzerland, expressed serious concern over the human
rights situation in North Korea, urging the communist state to take
necessary measures for improvement. (Chosun, Hankook, Seoul)
International News
1. According to the Kyodo News Agency, Japan's Defense Minister
Yasukazu Hamada said in a March 3 press conference that Japan is
ready to shoot down any North Korean rocket headed toward its
territory. He was quoted as saying: "If there is a possibility that
an object could lose control and drop on Japan, the object becomes
our target, including a satellite." (Dong-a)
2. The Japanese news agency went on to report that Japan is
considering deploying two naval destroyers with high-tech Aegis
radar systems and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to the East
Sea, in the event that North Korea's preparations for a missile
launch become more active. (Chosun)
Media Analysis
North Korea
Citing the Kyodo News Agency, conservative Dong-a Ilbo reported that
Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said in a March 3 press
conference that Japan is ready to shoot down any North Korean rocket
headed toward its territory. The Japanese Defense Minister was
quoted as saying: "If there is a possibility that an object could
lose control and drop on Japan, the object becomes our target,
including a satellite."
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, meanwhile, noted another Kyodo News report
saying that Tokyo is considering deploying two naval destroyers with
high-tech Aegis radar systems and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3)
interceptors to the East Sea, in the event that the North's
preparations for a missile launch become more active.
U.S.-Russia Relations - Missile Defense and Iran
Most of the ROK media reported that President Barack Obama sent a
s-e-c-r-e-t letter to the Russian President last month suggesting
that the U.S. would back off on a new missile defense system in
Eastern Europe if Moscow would help to stop Iran from developing
nuclear weapons. The media went on to say that the Russian
President responded positively, stating: "I expect those (positive)
signals from the U.S. will turn into specific proposals."
Conservative Chosun Ilbo's headline read: "Spring Wind Blows between
the U.S. and Russia."
KORUS FTA
The ROK media gave wide attention to last week's report by the USTR
to Congress, in which the USTR said: "The Bush Administration left a
legacy of numerous pending free trade agreements and negotiations.
We will conduct extensive outreach and discourse with the public on
whether these agreements appropriately advance the interests of the
U.S. and its trading partners." Much of the ROK media interpreted
this to indicate that the Obama Administration might conduct an
overall review of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Features
USTR Hints at Reexamination of the KORUS FTA
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 4, 2009, Page 6)
"The U.S. will conduct extensive outreach and discourse with the
public."
The Obama Administration said that the Bush Administration left a
legacy of numerous pending free trade agreements and negotiations.
The new Administration will conduct extensive outreach and discourse
with the public on whether these agreements appropriately advance
the interests of the U.S. and its trading partners.
The office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) made this point
in the '2009 Trade Policy Agenda and 2008 Annual Report' with 467
pages submitted to Congress last week.
Such a position indicates that the U.S. is willing to gather more
opinions from labor unions and related parties. Moreover, some
could interpret this to mean that the USTR might reexamine some of
the free trade agreements signed under the Bush Administration.
The report emphasized that "the Obama Administration will promptly,
but responsibly, address the issues surrounding the Colombia, Korea
and Panama Free Trade Agreements."
The report said that the Obama Administration is developing a plan
of action to handle the pending FTAs through consultation with
Congress. It also said that the Obama Administration will move
relatively quickly on the Panama FTA and will establish benchmarks
for progress on the KORUS FTA.
The report particularly underscored transparency and social
responsibility in dealing with trade pacts.
An economic source from Washington said, "President Obama strongly
intends that all of the messages he delivered to the Democratic-led
Congress and during his presidential campaign should fall under the
theme of 'responsibility and transparency.' He also intends that his
Administration will strictly apply these themes to pending issues
(like examination of previously negotiated FTAs such as the KORUS
FTA)."
Stephens
1
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 - March 4, 2009
Features
1.USTR Hints at Reexamination of the KORUS FTA
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 4, 2009, Page 6)
Top Headlines
Chosun Ilbo
Dow Jones Industrial Finishes Below 7,000, 12-Year Low, Sending
Global Economy into "Second Financial Shock"
JoongAng Ilbo, Hankook Ilbo, Segye Ilbo,
Seoul Shinmun, All TVs
National Assembly Fails to Pass Bill to Ease Restrictions
on Non-financial Businesses' Investment in Local Lenders
Dong-a Ilbo
National Intelligence Service Conducts Sweeping Reshuffle
of Senior Officials
Hankyoreh Shinmun
Justice Minister: "Anyone Using Violence at National Assembly Will
Face Stern Legal Action"
Domestic Developments
1. The USTR, in a report delivered to Congress last week, said that
the Bush Administration left a legacy of numerous pending free trade
agreements and negotiations and that the Obama Administration will
conduct extensive outreach and discourse with the public on whether
these agreements appropriately advance the interests of the U.S. and
its trading partners. To some this indicates that the Obama
Administration might conduct an overall review of the KORUS FTA.
(Dong-a, Hankook, Hankyoreh, Segye, Seoul, all TVs)
2. The ROK, during a March 3 meeting of the UN Human Rights Council
in Geneva, Switzerland, expressed serious concern over the human
rights situation in North Korea, urging the communist state to take
necessary measures for improvement. (Chosun, Hankook, Seoul)
International News
1. According to the Kyodo News Agency, Japan's Defense Minister
Yasukazu Hamada said in a March 3 press conference that Japan is
ready to shoot down any North Korean rocket headed toward its
territory. He was quoted as saying: "If there is a possibility that
an object could lose control and drop on Japan, the object becomes
our target, including a satellite." (Dong-a)
2. The Japanese news agency went on to report that Japan is
considering deploying two naval destroyers with high-tech Aegis
radar systems and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to the East
Sea, in the event that North Korea's preparations for a missile
launch become more active. (Chosun)
Media Analysis
North Korea
Citing the Kyodo News Agency, conservative Dong-a Ilbo reported that
Japan's Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said in a March 3 press
conference that Japan is ready to shoot down any North Korean rocket
headed toward its territory. The Japanese Defense Minister was
quoted as saying: "If there is a possibility that an object could
lose control and drop on Japan, the object becomes our target,
including a satellite."
Conservative Chosun Ilbo, meanwhile, noted another Kyodo News report
saying that Tokyo is considering deploying two naval destroyers with
high-tech Aegis radar systems and Standard Missile-3 (SM-3)
interceptors to the East Sea, in the event that the North's
preparations for a missile launch become more active.
U.S.-Russia Relations - Missile Defense and Iran
Most of the ROK media reported that President Barack Obama sent a
s-e-c-r-e-t letter to the Russian President last month suggesting
that the U.S. would back off on a new missile defense system in
Eastern Europe if Moscow would help to stop Iran from developing
nuclear weapons. The media went on to say that the Russian
President responded positively, stating: "I expect those (positive)
signals from the U.S. will turn into specific proposals."
Conservative Chosun Ilbo's headline read: "Spring Wind Blows between
the U.S. and Russia."
KORUS FTA
The ROK media gave wide attention to last week's report by the USTR
to Congress, in which the USTR said: "The Bush Administration left a
legacy of numerous pending free trade agreements and negotiations.
We will conduct extensive outreach and discourse with the public on
whether these agreements appropriately advance the interests of the
U.S. and its trading partners." Much of the ROK media interpreted
this to indicate that the Obama Administration might conduct an
overall review of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Features
USTR Hints at Reexamination of the KORUS FTA
(Dong-a Ilbo, March 4, 2009, Page 6)
"The U.S. will conduct extensive outreach and discourse with the
public."
The Obama Administration said that the Bush Administration left a
legacy of numerous pending free trade agreements and negotiations.
The new Administration will conduct extensive outreach and discourse
with the public on whether these agreements appropriately advance
the interests of the U.S. and its trading partners.
The office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) made this point
in the '2009 Trade Policy Agenda and 2008 Annual Report' with 467
pages submitted to Congress last week.
Such a position indicates that the U.S. is willing to gather more
opinions from labor unions and related parties. Moreover, some
could interpret this to mean that the USTR might reexamine some of
the free trade agreements signed under the Bush Administration.
The report emphasized that "the Obama Administration will promptly,
but responsibly, address the issues surrounding the Colombia, Korea
and Panama Free Trade Agreements."
The report said that the Obama Administration is developing a plan
of action to handle the pending FTAs through consultation with
Congress. It also said that the Obama Administration will move
relatively quickly on the Panama FTA and will establish benchmarks
for progress on the KORUS FTA.
The report particularly underscored transparency and social
responsibility in dealing with trade pacts.
An economic source from Washington said, "President Obama strongly
intends that all of the messages he delivered to the Democratic-led
Congress and during his presidential campaign should fall under the
theme of 'responsibility and transparency.' He also intends that his
Administration will strictly apply these themes to pending issues
(like examination of previously negotiated FTAs such as the KORUS
FTA)."
Stephens
1