Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL395
2009-03-13 08:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
how-toVZCZCXRO8489 RR RUEHGH DE RUEHUL #0395 0720821 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 130821Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3592 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 8248 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5506 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 9320 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5398 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0403 RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 4028 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 3020 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6260 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0643 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2028 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1059 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1680
UNCLAS SEOUL 000395
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK, PLANNED MISSILE LAUNCH
-------------- --------------
"North Korea Must be Brought to Book for Missile Launch"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (03/13): "The essence of the
problem is not whether North Korea gives advance notice. The
carrier rocket 'Unha-2,' which will supposedly launch the
'Kwangmyongsong-2' satellite into orbit, is actually no different
than a long-range missile. Accordingly, a 'satellite launch' is the
same as test-firing a 'ballistic missile.' If the international
community fails to admonish North Korea now, future efforts to
prevent it from spreading weapons of mass destruction will lose
considerable momentum. The stature of the UN and its Security
Council will also be damaged. If North Korea fires a missile, the
North must be held accountable so that it will not be able to
escalate its tirades at the Six-Party Talks."
"Rational Discussion, Not Rash Displays of Power, Needed on
Satellite Launch"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (03/13): "One will have
to wait until North Korea launches whatever it launches to see what
it is. Even if it is a satellite, it will be hard to differentiate
it from a long-range missile, if it never enters its proper orbit.
However, if the projectile does successfully enter its orbit, and
Pyongyang has indeed taken the necessary preparatory actions, it
will be hard to enact international sanctions. The U.S., Russia and
China all used ballistic missile technology to successfully send
satellites into orbit and it was never a problem. Iran, too,
launched a satellite and was never confronted with sanctions, even
though it is suspected of developing nuclear technology. It would,
of course, be most desirable for North Korea not to push ahead with
launching a satellite. Even if it does launch a satellite with the
purest of intentions, it will have to convince the international
community that it is not a threat. Pyongyang must refrain from
doing anything that makes the situation worse or incites other
parties. If it fires a satellite without dispelling the concerns of
the international community, it will be hurting chances for
resumption of the Six-Party Talks."
STEPHENS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC: DPRK, PLANNED MISSILE LAUNCH
-------------- --------------
"North Korea Must be Brought to Book for Missile Launch"
Conservative Chosun Ilbo editorialized (03/13): "The essence of the
problem is not whether North Korea gives advance notice. The
carrier rocket 'Unha-2,' which will supposedly launch the
'Kwangmyongsong-2' satellite into orbit, is actually no different
than a long-range missile. Accordingly, a 'satellite launch' is the
same as test-firing a 'ballistic missile.' If the international
community fails to admonish North Korea now, future efforts to
prevent it from spreading weapons of mass destruction will lose
considerable momentum. The stature of the UN and its Security
Council will also be damaged. If North Korea fires a missile, the
North must be held accountable so that it will not be able to
escalate its tirades at the Six-Party Talks."
"Rational Discussion, Not Rash Displays of Power, Needed on
Satellite Launch"
Left-leaning Hankyoreh Shinmun editorialized (03/13): "One will have
to wait until North Korea launches whatever it launches to see what
it is. Even if it is a satellite, it will be hard to differentiate
it from a long-range missile, if it never enters its proper orbit.
However, if the projectile does successfully enter its orbit, and
Pyongyang has indeed taken the necessary preparatory actions, it
will be hard to enact international sanctions. The U.S., Russia and
China all used ballistic missile technology to successfully send
satellites into orbit and it was never a problem. Iran, too,
launched a satellite and was never confronted with sanctions, even
though it is suspected of developing nuclear technology. It would,
of course, be most desirable for North Korea not to push ahead with
launching a satellite. Even if it does launch a satellite with the
purest of intentions, it will have to convince the international
community that it is not a threat. Pyongyang must refrain from
doing anything that makes the situation worse or incites other
parties. If it fires a satellite without dispelling the concerns of
the international community, it will be hurting chances for
resumption of the Six-Party Talks."
STEPHENS