Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SEOUL595
2009-04-13 07:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
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UNCLAS SEOUL 000595
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR ECON KPAO KMDR KS US
SUBJECT: SEOUL - MEDIA REACTION
East Asia and Pacific: DPRK, Missile Launch
--------------
"CHINA AND RUSSIA AGREE TO UNSC'S STATEMENT CONDEMNING NORTH KOREA"
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (04/13): "This
presidential statement has great significance in that it was a
decision agreed upon by the UN Security Council in response to North
Korea's defiant rocket launch. ... Since the impact of the
sanctions hinges on how actively UN members will implement them, it
is premature to say whether the presidential statement is truly
effective. The presidential statement is also limited because it
lacks compelling force. Nevertheless, North Korea should not take
it lightly that CHINA and Russia joined the condemnation and agreed
to specific sanctions, based on the perception that North Korea's
long-range rocket launch violates UN Security Council Resolution
1718. The North should seriously consider the fact that the
international community, including CHINA and Russia, spoke with one
voice about its rocket launch."
"SUBSTANTIVE SANCTIONS SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON NORTH KOREA'S ROCKET
LAUNCH"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (04/13): "The presidential
statement cannot be the same as a UN Security Council resolution.
It is questionable whether the steps that the UNSC Sanctions
Committee decides to take will be practical and whether the
non-binding statement will be effective in implementing sanctions on
the North. ... It is very disappointing that CHINA and Russia took
North Korea's provocation lightly and refused to adopt a resolution
on the North. The international community must clearly demonstrate
to the North the principle that 'it should pay the price for its bad
behavior.'"
"NO NEED TO BE OBSESSED WITH STRONG SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA"
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (04/13): "It is generally
believed that North Korea failed to achieve its goals at home and
abroad of showcasing its missile capability and testing the will of
the Obama Administration. In particular, since North Korea failed
to make great improvements in its rocket technology, the overriding
view is that North Korea would not dare to pursue a second nuclear
test as some people fear. ... Strong sanctions could only give
North Korea justification for rationalizing its bad behavior, rather
than deterring the North."
"CHINA CAN'T SAY 'NO' TO NORTH KOREA"
Beijing Correspondent Jang Hak-man observed in moderate Hankook Ilbo
(04/13): "The reason why CHINA is generous to North Korea is because
it wants the Six-Party Talks which are aimed at denuclearizing the
Korean Peninsula to be successful. ... If CHINA joins the
international community in sanctioning North Korea, North Korea
might defy China. This would derail the framework of the Six-Party
Talks and weaken China's influence on North Korea. For China, the
Kim Jong-il regime should be kept in place and the denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved through the Six-Party
Talks in order to stabilize Northeast Asia. This is why CHINA has
no choice but to accept North Korea's 'stand-alone' strategy even at
the expense of damaging its international reputation."
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, Missile Launch
--------------
"CHINA AND RUSSIA AGREE TO UNSC'S STATEMENT CONDEMNING NORTH KOREA"
Right-of-center JoongAng Ilbo editorialized (04/13): "This
presidential statement has great significance in that it was a
decision agreed upon by the UN Security Council in response to North
Korea's defiant rocket launch. ... Since the impact of the
sanctions hinges on how actively UN members will implement them, it
is premature to say whether the presidential statement is truly
effective. The presidential statement is also limited because it
lacks compelling force. Nevertheless, North Korea should not take
it lightly that CHINA and Russia joined the condemnation and agreed
to specific sanctions, based on the perception that North Korea's
long-range rocket launch violates UN Security Council Resolution
1718. The North should seriously consider the fact that the
international community, including CHINA and Russia, spoke with one
voice about its rocket launch."
"SUBSTANTIVE SANCTIONS SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON NORTH KOREA'S ROCKET
LAUNCH"
Conservative Dong-a Ilbo editorialized (04/13): "The presidential
statement cannot be the same as a UN Security Council resolution.
It is questionable whether the steps that the UNSC Sanctions
Committee decides to take will be practical and whether the
non-binding statement will be effective in implementing sanctions on
the North. ... It is very disappointing that CHINA and Russia took
North Korea's provocation lightly and refused to adopt a resolution
on the North. The international community must clearly demonstrate
to the North the principle that 'it should pay the price for its bad
behavior.'"
"NO NEED TO BE OBSESSED WITH STRONG SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA"
Moderate Hankook Ilbo editorialized (04/13): "It is generally
believed that North Korea failed to achieve its goals at home and
abroad of showcasing its missile capability and testing the will of
the Obama Administration. In particular, since North Korea failed
to make great improvements in its rocket technology, the overriding
view is that North Korea would not dare to pursue a second nuclear
test as some people fear. ... Strong sanctions could only give
North Korea justification for rationalizing its bad behavior, rather
than deterring the North."
"CHINA CAN'T SAY 'NO' TO NORTH KOREA"
Beijing Correspondent Jang Hak-man observed in moderate Hankook Ilbo
(04/13): "The reason why CHINA is generous to North Korea is because
it wants the Six-Party Talks which are aimed at denuclearizing the
Korean Peninsula to be successful. ... If CHINA joins the
international community in sanctioning North Korea, North Korea
might defy China. This would derail the framework of the Six-Party
Talks and weaken China's influence on North Korea. For China, the
Kim Jong-il regime should be kept in place and the denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula should be achieved through the Six-Party
Talks in order to stabilize Northeast Asia. This is why CHINA has
no choice but to accept North Korea's 'stand-alone' strategy even at
the expense of damaging its international reputation."
STEPHENS